"Smart" restraint systems are being researched and developed. However, whilst technology can ultimately be produced that will give rise to adaptive restraint systems, injury research is necessary in order to identify and quantify the most important occupant characteristics. This is necessary to ensure that future adaptive restraint systems are optimised.

12,605 car occupant records from phases 4 and 5 of the UK Co-operative Crash Injury Study (CCIS) were analysed to establish the injury potential for front seat occupants in both frontal and side impacts. Casualties were grouped by gender, seating position and injury severity, with the latter measured in relation to the Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS). Data from a further 4,758 accidents contained within a Fatals database was also incorporated into the analysis.

Cumulative frequency graphs for occupant characteristics such as age, weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI) were produced against accident parameters, such as injury severity (MAIS) for each occupant grouping. The aim was to identify specific occupant characteristics for which active-adaptive restraint systems might confer the most significant injury reductions.

This paper describes and discusses the analysis and identifies casualty groups who are at above average risk in frontal and side impacts. For example, in frontal impacts male drivers with a high BMI were shown to be at an increased risk of serious injury, compared with male drivers with an ’average’ BMI. The effect of each occupant characteristic on injury severity in frontal and side automobile collisions are described and discussed and their implications for active-adaptive restraint systems emphasised.