Citation

Krafft M, Nygren C, Tingvall C. J. Traffic Med. 1990; 18(2): 51-60.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1990, International Association for Accident and Traffic Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The objectives of the study described in this paper are to study: (a) the differences in injury risk between restrained car occupants travelling in either the rear or the front of the car; (b) the effectiveness of the use of restraint in preventing injury to rear seat passengers; and (c) in influence of vehicle weight on rear seat passenger injury. All cases (approximately 80000) of accidents causing car damage and which were reported to the Folksam Insurance Company in Sweden between 1st June 1983 and 31 December 1984 were filed and a questionnaire sent to the driver in each case. Instructions were that this questionnaire should be returned if at least one rear seat occupant had been injured. Questions were included about the reason for the journey, the accident, car damage and personal injuries sustained, the age, sex and size of all car occupants and the availability and use of restraints. Medical data about injuries were obtained from the injurance files and details of the car make, model, dimensions and restraint system obtained using the car registration number. Personal injuries were coded according to the abreviated injury scale (AIS). A total of 10118 occupants were involved, of which over half were children. It was found that the risk of injury to restrained front and rear seat passengers is similar if passenger age and car size are taken into account. The effectiveness of restraint use in preventing injury is higher for children than it is for adults, and there is a 50% higher risk of injury in small cars as compared to larger, heavier ones.