PRIORITIES FOR EU MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY DESIGN
priorities for eu motor vehicle safety design - ETSC
priorities for eu motor vehicle safety design - ETSC
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Figure 11. Frequency and injury severity of front and rear seat occupants (Accident<br />
Research Unit, Medical University of Hannover)<br />
Seat Positions of Car-Occupants<br />
Occupation %<br />
n=11.628<br />
Belt Using Rate %<br />
n=13.746<br />
Portion Severe Injured MAIS 2+<br />
Seat Belted Occupants %<br />
n=12.352<br />
97,2 29,0 94,4 94,2 7,0 7,4<br />
6,8 8,5 2,0<br />
58,7 60,9 50,9<br />
5,0 5,7 0,9<br />
Accident Research Unit MUH<br />
However, seat belt wearing rates in the rear are generally low across the <strong>EU</strong>. As a priority,<br />
seat belt wearing levels need to be increased to the same as rates in the front seat. Each<br />
seat needs to be fitted with 3-point belts, pre-tensioners and load limiters.<br />
In order to prevent rear seat passengers from suffering additional loading from luggage in<br />
the car’s rear the rear seat backrests need to be strong.<br />
Recommendations<br />
• Measures need to be taken to increase rear seat belt wearing rates.<br />
• 3-point seat belts, with pre-tensioners and load limiters, should be required for all rear<br />
seats.<br />
• Dynamic testing of rear seat back strength needs to be mandatory.<br />
(j) Measures to reduce neck injuries<br />
In Sweden approximately 60% of all injuries leading to long-term disability from car crashes<br />
are AIS 1 neck injuries, often called whiplash injuries (Krafft, 1998). Around 50% of these<br />
injuries occur in rear impacts, 30% in frontal impacts and the remaining 20% occur in side<br />
impacts and rollover accident. German data indicates similar proportions. Of all reported<br />
whiplash injuries, between 5% and 10% leads to long-term disability (Nygren, 1984). In many<br />
<strong>EU</strong> Member States whiplash injury has been found to be one of the important injuries. From<br />
an epidemiological standpoint reducing whiplash injuries is a key action of major importance.<br />
To date, several hypotheses of injury mechanisms of whiplash injuries have been proposed.<br />
It seems possible that the injury mechanisms could be similar in rear-end and frontal impacts<br />
(Krafft, 1998; Kullgren et al, 2000). It could be influenced within extension and flexion<br />
movement of the cervical spine (Hell and Langwieder, 1999).<br />
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