EJECTION RISK IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS

This study examines the influence of various accident parameters on the probability of occupant ejection and the relative risk of occupant ejection along a variety of ejection routes. The relation between injury severity and ejection route was also examined. Data pertaining to one and two car collisions involving American make automobiles manufactured between 1968 and 1973 were used in this study. These data were selected from the files of Calspan's Tri-Level Accident Study and Automotive Crash Injury Research Program, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation File. The probability of occupant ejection was found to be related to type of collision. Vehicles involved in rollover collisions were demonstrated as more likely to produce occupant ejection than non-rollover vehicles. For non-rollover collisions, the door was recorded as the primary ejection route (door window ranked second). For rollover collisions, the door window was demonstrated as the primary ejection route (door ranked second). As far as seated position is concerned, rear seated occupants were found to be the least likely to experience ejection. Ejection injury was demonstrated more severe than non-ejection injury, and ejection route was found to have no influence on expected injury severity. Because of the effectiveness of the lap belt-shoulder harness restraint system in reducing occupant ejection, it was concluded that increased restraint utilization could provide as effective a means of reducing ejection as vehicle redesign.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/N99
• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225
• Authors:
  • Anderson, T E
• Publication Date: 1974-10

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 46 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles by type; Crash injury research; Crash severity; Restraint systems; Rollover crashes; Shoulder harnesses; Teachers; Vehicle occupants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Vehicle make
• Old TRIS Terms: Occupant restraint; Shoulder harness
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00080396
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• ISBN: N 99
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT HS-801 237 Final Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-053-3-619
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1975 12:00AM