LEG INJURIES TO DRIVERS OF SELECTED MODELS OF CAR, WITH SUPPLEMENTARY DATA ON HEAD AND CHEST INJURIES

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether different models of car differ in the leg injury received by their drivers in road accidents. If these can be demonstrated and related to the design features of the parcel shelf and other components of the leg impact area then useful design guides will have been provided. The source of the data is the notebook the policeman fills in at the scene of the accident. Among the information this gives is the make and model of the vehicles involved, details of how the accident happened, and a brief description of the injuries received. This injury description is poor in comparison with data from medical sources, but nevertheless does give useful information. The aim was to include in the accident sample all the serious non-pedestrian single vehicle accidents involving five selected models of cars, plus all their collisions with other cars, which occurred in the metropolitan police district (greater London) in 1971. The models selected for study are among the most common ones in Britain. They are all of similar small size (in the weight range 1400-1800lb). Models b and C are virtually identical, but the design of the fascia and parcel shelf is different; the effect of this on leg injury problems will be discussed later. /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  University College London

  Centre for Transport Studies, Gower Street
  London,   United Kingdom  WC1E 6BT
• Authors:
  • Hutchinson, T P
• Publication Date: 1974-6

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 30 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crash investigation; Crashes; Design; Drivers; Head; Injuries; Leg; Thorax; Traffic crashes; Vehicle compartments; Vehicle interiors
• Uncontrolled Terms: Motor vehicle accidents
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Old TRIS Terms: Automobile makes
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1243: Car; 9011: Design (overall design); 1772: Driver; 2163: Injury; 1377: Interior (veh); 2023: Leg (human); 2083: Thorax; 8119: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00133829
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Road Safety Study and Research Fund, Belgium
• Report/Paper Numbers: Monograph
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 9 1977 12:00AM