Run-off-road crashes into roadside hazards that include impacting rigid objects and roll-over constitute approximately 40% of road fatalities and cross over two car frontal collisions account for around 7% of fatalities in Australia. Considerable onus to protect vehicle occupants during such crashes sits with vehicle manufactures. It is clear from research to date, however, that side impacts into narrow objects beyond impact speeds of 40 km/hr, head-on and large engagement offset crashes at closing speeds of 120 km/hr, and roll-over crashes are presently at the limits of survivability.

One way of protecting occupants in such crashes is to use a roadside or median barrier to safely redirect the vehicle. Road crash barriers can in themselves be hazardous unless designed properly. Errant vehicle redirection should occur so that air bag and seat belt pretensioning systems do not fire and rollover does not occur. Research into roadside barrier crash tests carried out by the Department of Civil Engineering at Monash University over the past decade, has revealed some key crashworthiness characteristics that both vehicle and barrier manufacturers alike need to consider. This paper presents results of crash tests that provide some insight into vehicle-barrier crash pulses, occupant and vehicle kinematics and desirable occupant protection systems related to existing barrier profiles and properties and what are the most suitable vehicle and barrier crashworthiness features essential for safe vehicle redirection. The paper also argues, using some real-world examples, in favour of bringing together road designers and car manufacturers with associated regulatory bodies to emphasise a holistic perspective to enhance occupant protection in road crashes.