Harold W. Sherman

Effectiveness of Current and Future Restraint Systems in Fatal and Serious Injury Automobile Crashes

Data from 101 front seat automobile occupant fatality crashes that the authors had investigated were reviewed along with 70 front seat automobile occupants who had the more severe (AIS 3, 4, or 5) level injuries who did not die. The effectiveness of the lap belt alone, lap-shoulder belt, air bag alone, air bag with lap belt, and the passive shoulder belt were made. The estimates reveal that none of the restraints would have prevented 42 to 51 of the fatalities. The air bag with lap belt, and the lap-shoulder belt system, have the highest effectiveness for reducing fatalities (AB+LB, 34%; LB+SH, 32%). The air bag with lap belt has an effectiveness of 68% in reducing the more serious injuries with the lap-shoulder belt nearly as equal (64%).

SEAT BELT EFFECTIVENESS: CASE EXAMPLES FROM REAL-WORLD CRASH INVESTIGATIONS

Although it may be well known that the lap-shoulder belts are effective in reducing occupant injury in motor vehicle crashes, hardly ever have actual examples been presented in the medical literature. This paper presents case histories of selected severe crashes in which one or more of the occupants were lap-shoulder belted. Environmental and vehicular details, as well as injury descriptions, are presented along with comments.

Biomechanical Accident Investigation Methodology Using Analytical Techniques

The purpose of this paper is to describe a combination of state-of-the-art detailed accident investigation procedures, computerized vehicle crash and occupant modelling, and biomechanical analysis of human injury causation into a method for obtaining enhanced biomechanical data from car crashes. Four accident cases, out of eighteen investigated, were selected for detailed reconstruction. Three were frontal impacts while the fourth was lateral. The CRASH II and MVMA 2-D analytical models were used in the reconstruction process. Occupant motions, force interactions with vehicle components, accelerations on the various body segments, and much other information was produced in the simulation process and is reported in this paper along with scene and injury data from the accidents. The major conclusion reached was that the reconstructions, using largely preliminary data for the occupant and vehicle, were evaluated and the dynamic loadings predicted for application to the car occupants yielded injury results which were generally within accepted ranges of human tolerance data. Additional conclusions were reached about the quality of data describing the occupant, car, and accident needed for analytical reconstruction. For the covering abstract of the conference see HS-036 716. (Author/TRRL)

Severe to Fatal Injuries to Lap-Shoulder Belted Car Occupants

Lap-shoulder belt effectiveness has been indicated by many authors, however there is minimal information on the more severe injuries to lap-shoulder belted car occupants. This paper presents details of 15 lap-shoulder belted occupants in frontal collisions and 24 lap-shoulder belted occupants in side impact collisions. Case descriptions of these crashes are presented, each including vehicle, environmental and injury details. /GMRL/

Automatic Shoulder Belts Injury Reduction in Toyota Cressida Crashes

This report presents nineteen cases of detailed field accident investigations of Toyota Cressida crashes wherein the automatic shoulder belt was worn. Specifics of the accidents and the injuries sustained by the passively restrained occupants are detailed.

CASE DESCRIPTIONS OF LAP-SHOULDER BELTED OCCUPANTS IN CAR CRASHES

From field crash investigations conducted by the authors, a series of well documented crashes will be presented. In each, at least one occupant was wearing a lap-shoulder belt. Detailed injury reports will be presented along with photographs of car damage, occupant contact areas, and where possible, the estimated impact speeds. /GMRL/

CLINICAL CASE REVIEWS OF LIGHT TRUCK AND VAN CRASHES

This paper reviews some clinical case studies taken from field investigations conducted by the authors of actual crashes involving light trucks and vans. An attempt is made to indicate where Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards might possibly be applicable and to compare cases where vehicle design changes apparently reduced the severity of injuries. In particular, cases are shown where occupants were restrained and where steering column energy absorbing and rearward displacement systems have been installed.

Methodology for Establishing and Operating Productive Accident Investigation Programs

CONDITIONS AND PRACTICES ESSENTIAL FOR COLLECTION OF RELIABLE AND ADEQUATE MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INFORMATION ARE DEFINED. INCLUDED ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS AND MANAGEMENT OF PERSONNEL FOR THE INVESTIGATION TEAMS AND MAINTENANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH CIVIL AUTHORITIES AND HOSPITALS. EXAMPLES FROM ACTUAL EXPERIENCE ARE PRESENTED TO DEMONSTRATE THE USEFULNESS OF ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION INFORMATION IN INDENTIFYING AREAS WHERE VEHICLE DESIGN IMPROVEMENTS ARE DESIRABLE AND EVIDENCE THAT CORRECTIVE ACTION TAKEN BY VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE. /HSL/