APPLYING FIRST PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIGN OF CRASHWORTHY SYSTEMS FOR ROAD SAFETY

The road toll in terms of deaths and serious injury arises from impacts that result in transfers of forces that are in excess of human tolerance values. Effective and efficient injury prevention measures therefore must bring the energy and force transfer down to tolerable levels. The most direct methods for doing so firstly recognise the laws of physics and engineering involved in impacts and secondly draw on fundamental physical principles for effective countermeasure development. In considering countermeasure options for reducing the harm potential in crashes, certain design concepts need to be kept in mind to ensure the effectiveness of any proposals. This paper reviews some of these fundamental principles, and demonstrates their applicability by reference to the range of crashes occurring on the road today. The paper discusses the need for safety researchers, and vehicle and infrastructure designers to recognise and apply these principles to reduce current system failures leading to serious injury. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see IRRD abstract no. E202589.

• Corporate Authors:

  Queensland University of Technology

  Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety
  Beams Road
  Carseldine, Queensland  Australia  4034
• Authors:
  • Rechnitzer, G
• Publication Date: 2000

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 347-52
• Serial:
  • ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH, POLICING AND EDUCATION CONFERENCE, 2000, BRISBANE, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
  • Publisher: Queensland University of Technology

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Absorption; Acceleration (Mechanics); Anthropometry; Anthropometry; Conferences; Costs; Crash severity; Crashes; Deformation; Energy; Injuries; Injury severity; Prevention; Safety; Speed
• ITRD Terms: 6758: Absorption; 5405: Acceleration; 1643: Accident; 1661: Accident prevention; 1631: Collision; 8525: Conference; 224: Cost; 5595: Deformation; 213: Energy; 2055: Human body; 2163: Injury; 1665: Safety; 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 5408: Speed
• Subject Areas: Energy; Finance; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00814462
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 9 2001 12:00AM