Elderly occupants: posture, body shape, and belt fit

Abstract

A laboratory study was conducted to quantify the posture, body shape, and safety belt fit of 200 adults with a wide range of age, stature, and body weight. Body and belt landmark data were gathered as participants sat in a driver mockup that was adjusted to represent nine vehicle packages spanning a large range of the vehicle fleet and in a mockup of a rear passenger seat. Whole-body surface shape data were gathered in 22 postures using a laser scanner. The data analysis showed significant effects of occupant attributes on posture and belt fit. Vehicle and seat variables had important effects on posture and position but did not have strong effects on belt fit relative to occupant attributes, particularly body mass index. Age had significant effects on both posture and belt fit, although the effect of age was smaller than the effect of body mass index across the ranges in the participant population.