PASSENGER COMPARTMENT INTRUSION IN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS

The study examines the influence of various accident parameters on (1) the probability of passenger compartment intrusion and (2) the relative ranking of intrusion sources (roof, door, etc.) in terms of frequency of occurrence. The injury hazard associated with compartment invasion was also examined. Data pertaining to one and two car collisions involving American make automobiles manufactured between 1968 and 1973 were used in the study. These data were selected from the files of the Tri-Level Accident Study. The incidence of passenger compartment intrusion (1 inch and over) was found to average approximately 50 percent in non-rollover crashes and approximately 97 percent in rollover crashes. The primary sources of intrusion recorded were the floor, dash panel, A-pillar and door (non-rollover collisions) and the roof, A-pillar and door (rollover collisions). For non-rollover impacts, the incidence of intrusion was found to increase with increases in accident severity.

• Corporate Authors:

  Calspan Corporation

  4455 Genesee Street
  Buffalo, NY  United States  14225

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Anderson, T E
• Publication Date: 1974-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 28 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injury research; Crash investigation; Crashes; Passengers; Research
• Old TRIS Terms: Intrusion tests
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00081180
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CALSPAN-ZQ-5276-V-3RFinal Rpt.
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-053-3-619,, DOT-HS-053-2-277
• Files: NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 6 1975 12:00AM