STATUS OF NHTSA'S EJECTION MITIGATION RESEARCH PROGRAM

One of the most important problems in rollover safety is ejection mitigation. A few years ago, advanced side glazing systems appeared to be the only reasonable method for passively providing ejection mitigation. More recently, automobile manufacturers announced plans to provide ejection mitigation in some of their vehicles through the use of inflatable devices. These devices are modified versions of the inflatable head protection devices that are currently available in many vehicles. Both inflatable devices and advanced glazing systems are being examined in NHTSA's current ejection mitigation research program. A dynamic rollover fixture (DRF) was developed as a research tool to produce full-dummy ejections more repeatably and at less cost than full-scale testing. The DRF is being used to evaluate the effectiveness of inflatable devices, advanced glazings, and combinations of these systems in reducing occupant ejections. Also, impactor tests were previously developed to measure the retention and head injury causing potential of advanced glazing systems. These test procedures are being examined to determine if they are suitable for evaluating inflatable devices and combination systems. This paper discusses the status of the agency's current ejection mitigation research program. For the covering abstract see ITRD E825082.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  MINISTRY OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND INDUSTRY OF JAPAN

  1-3-1, KASUMIGASEKI, CHIYODA-KU
  TOKYO,   Japan  100-8901
• Authors:
  • WILLKE, D T
  • Summers, S M
  • DUFFY, J S
  • LOUDEN, A E
  • ELIAS, J C
• Publication Date: 2003-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 13 p.
• Serial:
  • PROCEEDINGS OF 18TH INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE ON THE ENHANCED SAFETY OF VEHICLES, HELD NAGOYA, JAPAN, 19-22 MAY 2003
  • Publisher: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air bags; Conferences; Ejection; Head; Injuries; Overturning; Prevention; Safety glass; Vehicle occupants; Windshields
• ITRD Terms: 1465: Air bag (restraint system); 8525: Conference; 1651: Ejection; 2163: Injury; 1637: Overturning (veh); 9149: Prevention; 1447: Safety glass; 1715: Vehicle occupant; 1311: Windscreen (veh)
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00987303
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 3 2005 12:00AM