Literature Review of Sitting Postures and Belt Fit in Passenger Vehicles

Rapport, 2022

To ensure the protection of all occupants in various accident scenarios, research is needed to understand how people sit, why they adopt certain sitting postures, and how these postures affect seat belt fit. A challenge in this field is establishing suitable methods for measuring and defining sitting postures and belt fit that produce results representative of real-world conditions. This literature review provides an overview of existing research on sitting posture and seat belt fit in passenger vehicles. It examines the methods used to measure and quantify sitting postures and belt fit, as well as the factors influencing them. The aim is to enhance knowledge and understanding in this area and to identify potential research gaps that can guide future studies. The review shows that both stationary and driving studies are frequently conducted methods, employing qualitative and quantitative approaches that collect subjective and objective data. However, a notable research gap exists regarding the comparison between stationary and driving studies and the type of results each approach produces. Furthermore, limited research has explored the correlation between subjective and objective data, which could help explain why certain sitting postures and belt fits occur. The time aspect also plays a crucial role when studying sitting postures, yet no clear conclusions have been drawn about when shorter or longer study durations are sufficient to obtain valid results. In conclusion, comparing different time intervals and determining the most appropriate approach for specific research questions could support the design of more efficient studies that produce valid insights into sitting posture and seat belt fit.