Paul, I don't think she'd been injury free. Without the airbags she wouldn't have had the leg bruises, but she'd probably be hospitalized if not for the belts. After 10 years of racing I've had my share of belt bruises. That bruise is from the force of the belt gradually decelerating the body. If it had not been for the belts, she would have impacted another part of the car, probably the steering wheel and windshield, with the same force as the impact of the two vehicles. Belt bruises are a sign that they did their job. I've used for their intended purpose enough to be passionate about their use. Everyone should know the proper placement of the belts too. They just don't go around you, they must be in the right spots to work. If the belt is over the belly the internal organs take the brunt of the impact causing internal injury. The belts should go from hip bone to hip bone below the belly. The bone structure takes a lot bigger impact than the spleen does. The shoulder belt is pretty much self explanatory but still should be between the shoulder joint and the shoulder. I know of women that will wear the belt under their arm as to not wrinkle their clothes. That does two things, it twist the body in an impact, and puts the force of the accident back onto the internal organs. Another thing that ticks me off, is watching young parents with children in booster seats, just put that belt over them as long as it's latched. That belt, especially the one around the waist has to be below the belly, and pulled snug. Any other way and that child might as well be a dash mounted air freshener.
Ok, I'll step down from my soap box now. lol