[Injuries of the maxillofacial region (author's transl)].

The essence of the Basle study on city traffic accidents is a 60% decrease of head injuries following the increase of car occupants wearing seat belts. The Heidelberg study shows similar results. The frequency of facial and cervical soft tissue injuries is 27% with 114 belt wearers and 71% with 1250 car occupants not wearing seat belts. The pattern of lacerations caused by the windshield is discussed. Duly fixed seat belts offer a real chance of survival and only minor injuries at a collision speed of 70 km/h.