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Citation |
Feist F, Sinz W, Hoschopf H, Mottl C, Tomasch E. Int. J. Crashworthiness 2012; 17(1): 75-91. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2012, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
Rear occupants are generally considered to sustain less severe injuries in frontal car impacts compared with front occupants. Contrary to this thesis, in 2009, in a serious accident involving two passenger cars took place in Austria in which three children seated in the rear were fatally injured in a frontal collision. Based on this car accident, the present study was performed to gain a better understanding of rear occupants? injury mechanisms and potential improvements to rear-seat restraint system. The study employed a validated numerical model that shows that loads and injury criteria can be reduced by up to 70%. Also, national accident databases have been analysed. The accidentology indicates that children restrained by the vehicle rear belt are fatally injured only approximately two times more frequently than children using a child restraint system. The investigation indicates that the protection level offered to children aged 6-14 does not match the high protection level available for adults and for children up to six. |