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With the prevalence of satellite imagery in the analysis of collision events growing in the field of accident reconstruction, this research aims to quantify, refine, and compare the accuracies of measurements obtained utilizing conventional instruments to the measurements obtained using Google Earth Pro software. Researchers documented and obtained 1305 unique measurements from 68 locations in 25 states and provinces in the United States, Canada, and Australia using measuring wheels and tape measures. Measurements of relevant features at each location (crosswalks, curved roadways, off-road features, etc.) were documented and subdivided into three groups: On-Road, Off-Road, and Curved Path measurements. These measurements were compared to the measurements obtained of the same features from current and historical satellite imagery within Google Earth Pro.

Inadequately restrained cargo is a problem in a wide range of vehicles, from passenger cars to heavy trucks. In a crash, the force needed to restrain the cargo is many times the weight of the cargo itself. In a passenger vehicle this means that the barrier between the cargo and the occupants must be capable of preventing the cargo from entering the passenger compartment. In heavy trucks, cargo restraints are generally used to prevent the shifting of cargo that could affect the stability of the truck and to keep the cargo on, or in, the truck during normal driving maneuvers. A somewhat unique problem occurs in the armored security vehicle. These vehicles are often used to transport very heavy, dense, valuable cargo. More specifically, this cargo is often coin and/or boxes containing paper currency. In many cases this cargo, which may exceed 2268 kilograms (5000 pounds), is carried in the same compartment as personnel.

This paper presents a review of web-sensitive locking retractors that are designed to prevent webbing payout of occupant restraint systems in emergency conditions. Investigation of the design and function of such devices reveals variables that affect their operation, which, when properly considered, allows the designer or user to assess their suitability in various applications. A description of web-sensing locking retractors and an explanation of their theory of operation shows how design, manufacturing, and application variability can affect their desired performance. Changes to design, manufacturing methods and testing procedures, and reconfiguration of applications are considered to improve their reliability.

This exploratory study investigated the effect of cognitive workload on manual lap belt usage in automatic restraint systems consisting of a passive motorized shoulder belt and a separate manual lap belt. Previous observational studies showed that, while these types of passive automatic restraint systems increased shoulder belt usage, occupants frequently did not engage the manual lap belt. This omission put the occupants at a significantly increased risk of injury in a crash. These studies also suggest that forgetfulness was one of the main reasons that occupants did not engage the manual lap belt. The objective of this study was to quantify manual lap belt usage with this type of automatic restraint system under varying cognitive workloads. Ten subjects participated in two testing sessions consisting of a low and high cognitive workload. During each test session, the subjects drove around a pre-defined course where they exited the vehicle at five locations to perform specific tasks.