Citation

Hynd D, Carroll J, Cuerden RW, Kruse D, Boström O. Proc. IRCOBI 2012; 40: 114-129.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The frontal impact safety of cars sold in Europe is regulated by the performance requirements of UN Regulation 94. This crash test includes two dummies that represent an average sized male driver and front seat passenger. This study identifies the possible casualty gains that might be achieved in the UK if the legislative test was altered to use a 5th percentile female dummy or a 95th percentile male, or that could be realised by using performance requirements that represent older occupants better. The effect on casualty numbers that might be achieved through the introduction of advanced "smart" restraint systems was also considered. Correlating real world accident data with sled test results it was found that casualty gains could be achieved for small or large occupants, or could be realised by using injury criteria that better represent older occupants. However, in conservative estimates these were not found to be beneficial overall for the UK population. A "smart" restraint system, which could be tuned to the range of test conditions and occupant sizes used in two frontal impact test procedures was found to offer a slight benefit. The magnitude of the benefit may increase for a fully adaptive smart restraint system compared with a simpler system.