Scientific paper ID 2696 : 2025/4

Road safety is one of the most important elements in modern automotive design and remains a key priority for both manufacturers and legislators. Despite the advancement of technology and the availability of more and more new safety systems, the most effective passive system remains the seat belt, invented back in 1959. Passive safety systems, including seat belts, have been designed and tested for decades based on the physiological data of the average male. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a properly used seat belt reduces the risk of death in a frontal crash by 45-60% and the risk of serious injury by about 50%. Short people with a height of less than 160 cm, who are mainly women, are at higher risk of injury from airbags, as they sit closer to the steering wheel and dashboard. A new generation of crash test dummies with accurate female anatomy – different mass distribution, more fragile bone structure, lower muscle density and center of gravity. They take into account important biomechanical differences and are used not only in passenger seats, but also in the driver`s seat. The integration of intelligent seat belts, such as adaptive belts that automatically adjust to the height and physique of the passenger through sensors, is also beginning to become more common.