Kinematics and Shoulder Belt Engagement of Children on Belt-Positioning Boosters during Emergency Braking Events
Paper in proceeding, 2017

Emergency braking can influence children’s posture and seatbelt interaction. To better protect children in crashes preceded by emergency braking, this study a ims to quantify kinematics and seatbelt engagement during braking events . Eighteen rear‐seated children were exposed to braking events with 1 g deceleration in a passenger vehi cle, restrained by the seatbelt on a booster cushion and an integrated booster cushion. Vehicle acceleration and video data were analysed to m easure head displacement and shoulder belt position. On the booster cushion the belt was generally mid‐sho ulder and lower on the torso with a gap, while on the integrated booster cushion i t was closer to the neck and hi gher on the torso without a gap. Average forward head displacement was 160 mm on the booster cushion and 150 mm on the integrated booster cushion. Generally, the belt maintained the same position on the shoulde r throughout braking, with exceptions influenced by shifted initial positions or non‐standard motions. Braking e vents placed the head approximately 150‐190 mm forward from the initial position, influenced by booster, statu re, and initial seatbelt positioning. This reinforces the importance of maintaining mid‐shoulder or close to neck bel t positions and upright, centred postures prior to emergency braking, which may influence the likelihood of imp acting the vehicle interior and sustaining head injuries in a subsequent crash.

braking

child safety

child restraint systems

kinematics

shoulder belt position

rea r seat

Author

Gretchen Baker

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Isabelle Stockman

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Katarina Bohman

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Lotta Jakobsson

Chalmers, Applied Mechanics, Vehicle Safety

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Mats Svensson

Chalmers, Applied Mechanics, Vehicle Safety

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Anna-Lisa Osvalder

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Chalmers, Product and Production Development, Design and Human Factors

Maria Wimmerstedt

Chalmers, Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre at Chalmers (SAFER)

Conference proceedings International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury, IRCOBI

22353151 (ISSN)

IRC-17-51

Subject Categories

Mechanical Engineering

Areas of Advance

Transport

More information

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