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Vehicle seat belt efficacy relates directly to the extent that occupant anthropometric dimensions align with the seat belt geometric design. Transport Canada researched and developed a Belt Fit Test Device (BTD) to assess potential occupant injuries resulting from incongruities between seat belt design and occupant anatomical characteristics. A proposed electronic version (eBTD) will allow vehicle manufacturers to use digital human modeling programs and computer-aided design (CAD) data and tools to evaluate seat belt designs before a vehicle is produced. This software module simulates seat belt routing over CAD data representing the physical device. The simulation incorporates anchor point kinematics and measures the belt position over clavicle, sternum and lap scales.

The belt-fit test device (BTD) measures and assesses static seat belt geometry of automobile seat belts. It was conceived and developed by Transport Canada throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s to address abdominal and upper body injuries that resulted from a mismatch between seat belt geometry and occupants' anthropometric characteristics. When positioned on an automobile seat, the BTD indicates whether the lap and shoulder belts fall within specified bounds that have been established to minimize the risk of serious injuries to soft tissue and organs from belt intrusion. Recently, work has focused on the development of an electronic version of the BTD using computer-human modeling techniques and computer-aided design (CAD). Tecmath AG, creators of the RAMSIS™ 3D human modeling system, are currently developing an electronic BTD (or eBTD).