Seat belts save childrens’ lives, but the impact of a severe frontal collision can place huge restraint pressure on a child’s chest. Researchers at the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain, working with Applus + Technologies Inc., Chicago, Ill., have designed a textile load limiter that reduces the length of time a child sustains acceleration forces by 50 percent, minimizing risk of chest, spine or abdominal injuries.
The textile device, a series of folds sewn into the upper seat-belt harness, transmits the force of impact to anchoring points in the vehicle. The system is cheap to install, does not require additional components to the seat belt system, and doesn’t change how either the car seat or child is positioned.