The Traffic Accident Reconstruction Origin -ARnews-

Re: Is the seat-belt buckle support bracket too weak? (1993 Toyota Camry)

Tom Horton (tbhorton@flash.net)
Thu, 6 May 1999 19:53:03 -0400 (EDT)

A few questions of my own.

1. Is the stub of the bracket still attached to the seat? If yes, is there an obvious sheared or fractured surface? If yes, have a metallurgist examine the bracket.

2. Desribe the condition of the remaining seat belt components. Is the latch plate (tongue) still available? The webbing and D-ring?

3. If the latch plate was secured to the buckle, why wasn't the buckle still attached to the latch plate post-collision?

4. Given the description of direction of force by Mr. Gorski, it seems to me that the occupant will move in the direction of the buckle and bracket and could apply enough force to break the bracket and dislodge the buckle. Indeed, if there are no load marks on the seat belt and no buckle attached to the latch plate, I suspect that is the answer.

All depends on the physical evidence on the belt system.

Having said all that, there was a recall on Toyota Corollas for an improperly heat treated buckle anchor bracket (too brittle).

Tom Horton
tbhorton@flash.net

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