[Problems with the seat belt]

The greater number of auto-accident victims treated during the observation period had not been using seat belts. Injuries characteristic of belt-usage were also noted. Although there was no significant difference between the two groups in number of injuries, the unbuckled passengers were consistently more seriously injured. In contrast to other studies, fractures of the extremities were more common in the unprotected group. Serious head injuries and head injuries on the whole were more numerous when seat belts were not fastened. The front and rear seat passengers without belts were found to be equally endangered.