RESTRAINT SYSTEM PERFORMANCE AND LIMITATIONS FOR CHILD OCCUPANTS OF MOTOR VEHICLES

The magnitude of the problem of injuries to child occupants of motor vehicles is defined, together with the accident pattern in terms of environmental and vehicle factors for the UK. The effects of child growth and structural strength on the main design philosophy of restraints is examined and areas where problems might arise in forward facing systems are predicted. The requirements of national and international standards are reviewed in terms of limitations on head forward movement and also head and chest decelerations. Analysis of questionnaires shows that a significantly smaller proportion of restrained children are injured compared with unrestrained in the proportion 1:3.1. Although the head area has the highest frequency of injury, there is no evidence of a high proportion of neck injuries in spite of the fact that over 50% of the children restrained in harnesses are younger than the recommended age implied in BS 3254. It is shown that restrained children in the rear seating positions, with AIS 2 injury severity, received their injuries in accidents which involve side or rear directions of force, including roll overs, and where intrusion may also have occurred. (TRRL)

• Corporate Authors:

  Middlesex Polytechnic, England

  Road Safety Engineering Lab, The Burroughs
  Hendon,   England 
• Authors:
  • ROY, P
• Publication Date: 1979-10

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 350 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Child restraint systems; Children; Crashes; Design; Design standards; Economic efficiency; Evaluation and assessment; Head; Injuries; Injury severity; Location; Manual safety belts; Neck; Passive restraint systems; Prevention; Propellants; Theses; Vehicle occupants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Design criteria; Efficiency; Severity
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1758: Child; 5911: Efficiency; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 2163: Injury; 9061: Location; 1466: Passive safety system; 9149: Prevention; 1476: Safety belt; 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 8597: Thesis; 1715: Vehicle occupant
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Vehicles and Equipment; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00349992
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 30 1982 12:00AM