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A series of controlled experimental programs were conducted for the purpose of improving the motor vehicle rollover protection system. Test results reported in this paper have been previously presented in SAE Paper No.980213 [1]. Experiments tested lap belt restraints utilizing a variety of lap belt geometric and webbing slack conditions. Tests utilized in the series include dynamic and static tests and the use of test mannequins and human volunteers. In the first test program, utilizing a rigid seat, human volunteers were subjected to minus 1.0 Gz acceleration and a 95th percentile Hybrid III mannequin was subjected to minus 5.0 Gz acceleration for a variety of lap belt conditions. A second program utilized a rigid mannequin in production vehicle seats for the purpose of measuring and comparing seat belt system effective slack. Finally, the rigid mannequin from the second test and the rigid seat and lap belts from the first test were brought together and tested.

Outriggers are devices that arrest vehicle rollover during handling test maneuvers to protect the test vehicle and/or test driver. Validity of data in these tests has been questioned because the effect outriggers have on vehicle dynamics is not well understood. This research quantifies changes in handling characteristics with outriggers attached to a test vehicle. Three outrigger systems of different masses were developed and tested through various limit and sub-limit handling maneuvers. Analysis of the data generated during testing indicates improvements necessary for future outrigger designs leading to better understanding of vehicle dynamics and potentially reduced injuries from rollovers.