%0 Journal Article
%T A case study of external forces exerted on vehicles and vehicle occupants in an automobile accident
%J Proceedings: American Association for Automotive Medicine Annual Conference
%D 1978
%A Tomike, T
%V 22
%N 1
%P 345-352, +insertion
%X An automotive accident occurred in which two vehicles of nearly the same mass collided head-on, in a manner resembling a fixed- barrier frontal collision test. However, this was an actual on- the-road accident and not a test crash, and both vehicles sustained damages of approximately the same severity. One of the two unrestrained drivers sustained internal thoracic hemorrhaging, and the other received a light chest contusion. In order to clarify differences between the injuries sustained by the two occupants, we conducted a detailed case study and analysis of this particular traffic accident. We estimated external forces [deceleration, SI (Severity Index), load, and load per unit area] exerted on both drivers, and examined how differently these forces were applied and what factors caused this difference. These points were determined in a sled test of the steering system and in an actual vehicle test, using a dummy in both tests. As a result of our study, we have put forth a theory regarding the factors and values of human body survival limits. In so doing, we have raised a question as to the safety of the steering system, and as to previous evaluations of that safety.<p />
%G 
%I Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
%@ 0892-6484
%U http://dx.doi.org/