AN ANALYSIS OF 72 REAL WORLD IMPACTS--AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION INTO INJURY AND COMPLAINT FACTORS

An initial study into actual car-to-car collisions provides insights into the factors associated with physical complaints in real collisions and identifies those areas requiring greater detail. Data compiled from 72 real world, rear automobile collisions shows that a gap exists between current testing and modeling and the realities of a typical rear impact. Analysis of the data indicates that among the most significant factors associated with physical complaints, in a rear impact, is an occupant's reported awareness of the impending collision. Awareness of an imminent impact allows an occupant in a struck vehicle to exercise sufficient muscle control to prevent flexion/extension injuries of the neck in many collisions. Other factors identified include gender, occupant position, preexisting injuries, seat belt usage, seat back failure, and impact orientation. Finally, the data in the study reveals that the potential for significant head and brain injuries exists in pickup, and even large trucks, struck from the rear. Analysis of the data suggests areas that may benefit from more detailed analysis. Among these are the specifics of the injuries/complaints, locations of previous injuries, and occupant position. Another contributing factor in preventing flexion/extension injuries of the neck is seat back failure. In those cases where the seat back failed, even slightly, flexion and hyperextension complaints in the neck tended to be less severe. This was found to be true, even if the impact was a surprise and at high velocity. The potential may exist to modify current seat design to provide for energy absorption, thereby reducing flexion/extension injuries of the neck.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0768003644
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was presented at the 1999 SAE International Congress and Exposition and is included in the SAE Special Publication, "Occupant Protection" (SP-1432).
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • Smith, J J
• Conference:
  • 1999 SAE International Congress and Exposition
  • Location: Detroit, Michigan , United States
  • Date: 1999-3-1 to 1999-3-4
• Publication Date: 1999-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 51-58
• Serial:
  • SAE Special Publications
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Brain; Crash injuries; Crash injury research; Energy absorption; Gender; Head; Multiple vehicle crashes; Neck; Occupant vehicle interface; Pickup trucks; Rear end crashes; Seat backs; Seat belts
• Subject Areas: Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I84: Personal Injuries; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00770078
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0768003644
• Report/Paper Numbers: 1999-01-0640
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 1 1999 12:00AM