WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Federal regulators are preparing rules that could lead to dramatic improvements in seat belts for better rollover protection.
The National Highway Safety Administration, under pressure to reduce deaths and injuries in rollover accidents, believes a two-prong approach -- stronger roofs and better seat belts -- will save the most lives, the Detroit News said Friday.
The agency has pledged to update a 33-year-old vehicle roof strength standard this year. But, it contends seat belts contribute at least as much as collapsing roofs to head and neck injuries in rollovers, allowing occupants to shift out of their seat and hit the roof.
Seat belts remain the first line of defense during a rollover. When passengers and drivers are unbelted, the chances of ejection increase dramatically.
People wearing seat belts, however, are not immune from harm. About 20 percent of the 10,376 people killed last year in rollover crashes were wearing seat belts.
