Mr. Yazdani Damavandi, drawing from his personal experiences and the widespread issues surrounding vehicle safety, concluded that a solution was necessary for the lack of appropriate safety equipment for children and adolescents. In many countries, including Iran, child safety seats are only suitable for children under three years of age, leaving those aged four to twelve without proper seating arrangements. Additionally, the rear seat belts in vehicles are designed solely for adults. Due to the shorter stature of children and adolescents, the upper strap of the seat belt passes over their head and neck, rendering it ineffective.
This deficiency has resulted in children and adolescents aged four to twelve being left unprotected in vehicles. According to forensic statistics, this situation has led to the loss of two children’s lives each day due to traffic accidents.
Mr. Yazdani Damavandi’s innovation, titled “Dual-purpose rear seat belt for children and adults” or “Height-adjustable rear seat belt,” has been designed to address this issue. The concept includes a simple modification to the existing seat belt structure, allowing it to be used for children over five years old as well as shorter adults. In its child use mode, the upper strap of the seat belt is adjusted to a lower height, ensuring it properly crosses over the child’s shoulder without passing over their head and neck.
Mr. Yazdani Damavandi has installed a prototype of this design in his personal vehicle and has utilized it. However, due to the necessity for car manufacturers to install this equipment, mass production and public use are not currently feasible. He personally financed the project, investing three years of his time to equip a test vehicle with the new seat belt, progressing towards mass production. Unfortunately, bureaucratic hurdles and domestic obstacles have halted the implementation of the project.
The estimated cost to manufacture each dual-purpose seat belt is around 15,000 tomans for each side of the rear seat. In the initial stages, Mr. Yazdani Damavandi purchased materials from the market, and in the final stages, he used some defective samples. All costs have been borne by him and his partner without any government assistance.
His innovative design allows for the adjustment of the seat belt height by adding an extra seat belt socket and an extra buckle to the rear strap, making it suitable for both children and adults. This design has also been patented and currently requires further attention and support from automakers and relevant authorities.
This innovation clearly demonstrates Mr. Yazdani Damavandi’s continuous and dedicated efforts to enhance the safety of children and adults in vehicles, potentially playing a significant role in reducing accidents and injuries.