SIMULATION AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF SEAT BELT USE IN MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATION

In the context of the increasing use of motor vehicles in industrial production and transportation, ensuring operator safety has become a critical issue, especially under collision conditions. Seat belts are considered one of the most fundamental yet effective solutions for reducing injuries to drivers. However, the protective performance of this system largely depends on its dynamic characteristics and operating conditions. This paper presents the development of a dynamic model of the seat belt system for drivers and the application of Matlab/Simulink to simulate and evaluate its performance under collision scenarios. Key parameters, including acceleration, seat belt force, chest compression velocity, and chest deformation, are analyzed at different impact speeds (25 km/h and 60 km/h). The simulation results indicate that the dynamic parameters vary significantly with impact speed. In particular, some factors such as chest deformation and seat belt force may exceed safety thresholds at higher speeds. Based on these findings, the study provides practical recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of seat belt systems and reduce injury risks for operators of motor vehicles under real operating conditions.