This paper discusses the injuries that result from side impact crashes in Australia, and identifies the high incidence and cost to the community of head and neck injury. The limitations of injury risk measurement are discussed, as well as the need to achieve protection for the whole community. It cautions that strategies concerned with only one performance measure (such as government regulation or NCAP test) can lead to ineffective protection for the community. It proposes the use of a biomechanical injury cost model in the development of occupant protection to achieve the maximum benefit to the Australian community, in terms of minimisation of injury and cost to the community.