1. Standardized Child Passenger Safety Training Program Winter 2004
Vehicle Occupant Protection Systems

2. Objectives Identify types of occupant protection systems
Describe kinds of safety belts and the protection offered by each
List and describe the parts and advantages of a safety belt
Demonstrate the use of occupant protection systems
Explain the types of air bags and how they work
Explain best practice for occupant protection systems after a crash
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3. Types of Occupant Protection
Passive Protection
features built into the vehicle
protects without any action by the occupant
Active Protection
features require action by the occupant
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4. Passive Protection: Automatic Safety Belts
Door mounted shoulder belt with knee bolster
Track mounted shoulder belt with manual lap belt
Door mounted automatic lap & shoulder 1 2 3
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5. Passive Protection: Air Bags
FRONTAL: Driver, Passenger and Knee
HEAD: Tube and Curtain
CHEST: Door and Seat Mounted
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6. Other Passive Protection
Crushable frames
Reinforced passenger compartment
Friendly interior
Padding
Head restraints
Laminated windshields
Recessed knobs
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7. Active Protection Lap belts “2-point” Lap and shoulder belts “3-point”
Child restraint systems
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8. Air Bags: Frontal Driver Passenger Knee
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9. Side Air Bags Chest Chest/Head Head only
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10. Air Bag Warnings Always on sun visor Sometimes on airbag cover
Sometimes inside door
Sometimes on safety belt or vehicle seat
Can be almost anywhere
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11. Air Bag Markings SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
SIR (Supplemental Inflatable Restraint)
AIR BAG
SIPS (Side Impact Protection System)
SIAB (Side Impact Air Bag)
IC (Inflatable Curtain)
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12. Air Bag On-Off Switches
Rule exempts dealers and repair businesses from the prohibition against making required safety equipment inoperative.
Beginning January 1998, manual on-off switches may be installed in vehicles owned by persons whose requests for switches have been approved by NHTSA.
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13. Air Bag On-Off Switches
Circumstances permitted:
MUST transport rear-facing infant in front seat
MUST transport children under 12 in front
Drivers who can not change driving position (10” from air bag)
Medical condition
Must read an informational brochure
Send request to NHTSA
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14. Parts of a Safety Belt Webbing Anchor Points Latch Plate Buckle
Retractor
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15. Types of Latch Plates Locking Sliding Sewn Switchable
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16. Locking Latch Plate Locked Locking Bar Not Locked
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17. Cinching/Lightweight Locking Latch Plates
Some may release when enough pressure is applied
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18. Sliding Latch Plates
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19. Sewn Latch Plates Lap Only Lap and Shoulder
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20. Switchable Latch Plate
Adult Sliding Latch Plate Position
Child Restraint Locking Latch Plate Position
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21. Types of Retractors Automatic Locking (ALR) Emergency Locking (ELR)
Switchable
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22. Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
Allows belt to be pulled in one motion until fastened
Then operates as a ratchet, winding in slack, preventing further extension (until completely rewound)
Webbing
Ratchet
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23. Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
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24. Switchable Retractor Manually adjusted from ELR to ALR
Most pull all webbing out for switch to ALR
Others have a button for switch to ALR
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25. Other Safety Belt Features
Features vary from vehicle to vehicle
See vehicle owner’s manual
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26. Occupant Protection Systems After a Crash
Most occupant protection systems are generally one-time use
Recommendations regarding CRS replacement vary
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27. Child Restraints After a Crash
NHTSA criteria to determine if a crash is severe enough to warrant CRS replacement - A crash is considered minor if ALL are met:
Visual inspection does not reveal any cracks or deformities
Vehicle with CRS installed can be driven from the scene
Vehicle door nearest CRS is undamaged
No injuries to any occupants
Air bags did not deploy
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28. Occupant Protection Systems: Hands-On Exercise
Identify belt systems in all seating positions
Identify latch plates in all seating positions
Identify retractors in all seating positions
Identify air bag placements
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29. Occupant Protection Systems: Hands-On Exercise