AN EVALUATION OF OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN FRONTAL INTERIOR IMPACT FOR UNRESTRAINED FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS OF CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS. NHTSA TECHNICAL REPORT

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 201, Occupant Protection in Interior Impact, regulates the performance of certain vehicle interior surfaces in crashes. During the 1960's and early 1970's, the manufacturers generally modified instrument panels of cars and light trucks, installing padding, reducing the rigidity of panel structures and extending the panel downward and toward the passenger. This evaluation analyzes the effectiveness and benefits of instrument panel improvements in frontal crashes of cars and light trucks. It also estimates the cumulative fatality reduction - for unrestrained front seat occupants in frontal crashes - for all safety standards and vehicle improvements of the 1964-84 era. The study is based on statistical analyses of FARS, NCSS and NASS accident data and MVMA2D computer simulations of occupants impacting the instrument panel in frontal crashes. It was found that: (1) The instrument panel improvements of the 1965-75 era reduced fatality risk and serious injury risk by nearly 25% for unrestrained right front passengers of cars in frontal crashes, saving up to 700 lives per year; (2) A preliminary analysis of light trucks indicates close to 25% reduction of fatality risk between model years 1968 and 1976, for unrestrained right front passengers in frontal crashes; and (3) All the passenger car standards and improvements of the 1964-84 period, other than safety belts, save about 2200 driver and front seat passenger fatalities per year in frontal crashes.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Kahane, C J
• Publication Date: 1988-1

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 343 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crashworthiness; Fatalities; Frontal crashes; Improvements; Injuries; Instrument panels; Light trucks; Measures of effectiveness; Occupant protection devices; Reduction (Chemistry); Simulation; Statistical analysis; Stiffness; Vehicle padding
• Identifier Terms: Fatal Accident Reporting System; Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards; National Accident Sampling System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Interior; Occupant protection
• Old TRIS Terms: National crash severity study; Reduction
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00496620
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-807 203
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 31 1990 12:00AM