Contents
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6
1. Description, history, and previous studies of pretensioners and load limiters 7
2. Analysis method and database 10
2.1. Double-pair comparison 10
2.2. Significance testing with CATMOD 17
3. Results 21
3.1. Effectiveness by vehicle type 21
3.2. Estimating overall effectiveness while controlling for vehicle type 25
3.3. Car-CUV-minivan models produced with/without pretensioners/load limiters 26
3.4. Truck-based LTVs: estimating effectiveness while controlling for crash type 30
3.5. Effectiveness by crash type 32
3.6. Effectiveness by occupant age groups 37
3.7. Effectiveness by occupant's gender 38
3.8. Effectiveness by driver height groups 40
3.9. Effectiveness by driver weight groups 41
Appendix A. Pretensioners and Load Limiters at the Front-Outboard Seat Belts of Cars and LTVs Equipped With Dual Frontal Air Bags (No On-Off Switches), MY 1987 to 2011 43
Appendix B. MY 1996 to 2011 SUVs Considered CUVs in This Report 57
Table 1. Vehicles by Front-Outboard Belt Use and Survival Status(Cars and LTVs with dual air bags, with a driver and an RF passenger, at least one a fatality, FARS 1986 to 2011) 12
Table 2. Fatalities by Belt Use and Seat Position(Cars and LTVs with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011) 13
Table 3. Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts, Cars Plus LTVs(Cars and LTVs with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011) 17
Table 4. Pretensioner/Load Limiter Availability in 5 Vehicle Types(Cars and LTVs with dual air bags, with a driver and an RF passenger, at least one a fatality, FARS 1986 to 2011) 21
Table 4a. Pretensioner/Load Limiter Availability in 3 Vehicle Types(Cars and LTVs with dual air bags, with a driver and an RF passenger, at least one a fatality, FARS 1986 to 2011) 22
Table 5. Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts, by Vehicle Type(Cars and LTVs with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011) 23
Table 6. Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts in 3 Analyses of Cars, Cuvs, and Minivans(Vehicles with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011; all estimates corrected with the UEF) 29
Table 7. Distribution of Fatal Crash Involvements by Type of Crash(Truck-based LTVs with dual air bags, FARS 1994 to 2011) 31
Table 8. Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts, by Crash Type and Vehicle Type(Vehicles with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011; all estimates corrected with the UEF) 34
Table 9. Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts, by Occupant Age Groups and Vehicle Type(Vehicles with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011; all estimates corrected with the UEF) 39
Table 10. Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts, by Occupant's Gender and Vehicle Type(Vehicles with dual air bags, with a driver and RF passenger, FARS 1986 to 2011; all estimates corrected with the UEF) 39
Table 11. Drivers - Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts By Driver Height Groups and Vehicle Type(Vehicles with dual air bags, FARS 1998 to 2011; all estimates corrected with the UEF) 41
Table 12. Drivers - Fatality Reduction by Seat Belts By Driver Weight Groups and Vehicle Type(Vehicles with dual air bags, FARS 1998 to 2011; all estimates corrected with the UEF) 42