PASSENGER CARS AND OCCUPANT INJURY: SIDE IMPACT CRASHES Prepared by Fildes; B.N. Lane, J.C. Lenard, J. Vulcal1,A.P CR 134 April 1994 0 Commonwealth of Australia 1994 ISBN 642 510695 ISSN 0810-770X This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyrighr Acr 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Government Publishing Service. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction rights should be directed to the Manager, Commonwealth Information Services, Australian Government Publishing Service, GPO Box 84, Canberra ACT 2601. Produced by the Australian Goverment Publishing Service FEDERAL OFFICE OF ROAD SAFETY REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Report No. Report Date Pages ISBK ISSN CR 134 April 1994 I5 642 510695 OS10-77OX Title and sub-title: Passenger Cars and Occupant Injury: Side impact crashes Author@): Fildes, 8 N., Lane, J C , Lenard, 1. R: Vulcan; A.P Performing Organisation: Monash University .4ccident Research Centre Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, 3 168>Australia Sponsor [Report available from]: Federal Office of Road Safety GPO Box 594: CANBEm4, ACT; 2601. Ausrralia Key Words: SAFETI', ACCIDENT,VEHICLE OCCUP,\ST. INJURY. TEST METHOD SIDE IMP.4CT, ET'ALUAJJON Contents 1. MTRODCCTION ...........................................................................................................1 1.1 ProjectObjectives ..................................................................................................1 1 1.2 Study Methodology ................................................................................................1 2 . SIDE IMPACT LITERkTUREREVIEW ......................................................................3 2.1 Side Iqact CrasIles ...............................................................................................3 2.1.1 Injuries Froill SideImpacts ......................................................................4 1.1.2 111jury h~echallisms................................................................................... 5 " . 2.1.3 Source of ~n~ury....................................................................................... 6 2.2 Existing Countermeasures...................................................................................... 7 2.2.1Seat Belts .................................................................................................7 2.2.2 Side InlpactStandard ADK9 ..................................................................7 2.3 Bio111echanic Developments ...................................................................................8 2.3.1 TheSID Dummy ....................................................................................10 2.3.2 The EUROSID Dummy .........................................................................10 2.3.3The BIOSID Dumlny ..............................................................................10 2.4 Recent Regulation Developments........................................................................ 11 2.4.1 Dexrelopmellts in Side Impact Protection in the USA ............................11 2.4.2 De\relopments in Side Impac.t Protection in Europe ..............................13 2.4.; DifferencesBehveeii the Two Side ImpactStandards ........................... 13 2.4.4Vehicle ManufacturersReaction ............................................................14 2.1. j CTP Test Prosram ..................................................................................14 2.4.6 AustralianSituation ...............................................................................1j 25 Cost-Effectiveness of Side hpact Standards ......................................................15 2.5.1 FMVSS 214 Costs and Beneiits .............................................................15 2.~.~-l Australian Costs and Benefits ................................................................16 2.6 Vehicle Design Factors ........................................................................................16 2.6.1 Side ImpactPadding ..............................................................................16 2.6.2 SideAirbag ............................................................................................17 2.6.3 SideImpact Protection ...........................................................................18 2.7 SLn1unary of Side Impact Review......................................................................... 19 3 . CR4SHED VEHlCLE STUDY ....................................................................................21 3.1 Method .................................................................................................................21 3.1.1 The Vehicle Sr OccupantPopulation .....................................................21 ,. 5.1 . 2 Procedure ...............................................................................................1.1 ,. 3.1.3 Calculation ofhpact \. 'elocit!. ..............................................................12 ... ,. 3.1.4 Selection 3.1.4 Crlrerla ....................................................................................12 ... -1 Ho spital Partlclpatlon3.1.5 Hospital Rates ...................................................................12 3.1.6 Patient & VehicleAssessment ...............................................................23 3.1.7 CodingInjuries & Contacts ....................................................................24 - PASSENGERCARS AND OCCU?.~;ISILRY: SIDLI~IPLCT CR.ASIES V 3.2 Variables & Analyses of these Data .................................................................. 24 3.2.1Overall Results .................................................................................... 26 3.3 Side Impact Crashes ......................................................................................... 27 3.3.1Impact Velocity ................................................................................... 27 3.3.2 Type of Vehicle ................................................................................... 27 3.3.3Patient Characteristics ......................................................................... 28 3.3.4Seatbelt Wearing ................................................................................. 28 3.3.5 Configuration of Side Impacts ............................................................. 28 3.3.6Intrusions and Deformations ............................................................... 31 3.3.7Ejections and Entrapments .................................................................. 32 3.4 Injuries in Side Impact Crashes......................................................................... 33 3.4.1Body Regions Injured ......................................................................... 33 3.4.2Sources of Injury ................................................................................. 33 3.4.3 Injuries by SeatingPosition ................................................................. 35 3.4.8 Injuries in Near and Far Collisions ...................................................... 48 3.4.9SideImpact Summary ......................................................................... 56 4 . DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 59 4.1 Severity of Side Impact Crashes....................................................................... 59 4.2 Overview of Crashand Occupant Characteristics .............................................. 59 4.2.1Side Impact Integrity ........................................................................... 60 4.2.2Occupant Characteristics ..................................................................... 60 4.2.3Entrapments and Ejections .................................................................. 61 .. C ontacts 61 4.3 InJunes and Contacts ........................................................................................ 4.3.1Body Regions Injured ......................................................................... 61 4.3.2 Frequent Points of Contact .................................................................. 61 4.3.3Injuries By Contact Sources ................................................................ 62 4.4 Side Impact Countermeasures........................................................................... 63 4.4.1Side Door Padding .............................................................................. 63 4.4.2Side Door Airbags ............................................................................... 64 4.4.3Improved Side Glazing ........................................................................ 64 4.4.4 Improved Seat Belt Wearing ............................................................... 65 4.4.5Improved Seat Belt Systems ................................................................ 65 4.4.6 Lower Instrument Panel Protection ...................................................... 65 4.4.7Occupant Separation ........................................................................... 66 4.4.8Side Structural Improvements ............................................................. 66 4.4.9Steering Column Movements .............................................................. 66 4.4.10 Reduced Side Impact Opportunities....................................................... 67 4.5 ANew Side ImpactStandard for Australia ........................................................ 67 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Side impact collisions