This study examines some characteristics of side impact crashes involving modern passenger cars. The UK National Accident Database (STATS 19) and UK In-depth Accident Database (CCIS) were analysed to determine crash characteristics and injury outcomes in side impacts. UK national accident data (300,000 road crash records per year) shows clear improvements in injury outcomes in side impacts when a sample of ‘older’ vehicle designs are compared to ‘newer’ vehicle designs. In-depth accident data was analysed to understand the nature and circumstances of crashes in which injury occurred.

Analysis of the characteristics of such crashes which resulted in serious injury suggests that the conditions in terms of collision speed and height of impact (on the struck vehicle) do not usually match those of the UNECE R95 test specification, but impact angle is in agreement.

In terms of AIS2+ injury outcomes in modern vehicles, head (28% of AIS2+ injuries to front seat occupants) and chest injuries (22%) still predominate although injuries to the abdomen (10%), upper extremity (14%) and lower extremity (including pelvis 19%) are also observed. When only AIS4+ injuries are considered, head (36%), chest (41.3%) and abdomen injuries (30.5%) comprise the overwhelming majority of injuries. The type of injury (in terms of anatomical location) was then considered together with injury contact source.

In conclusion, rates of serious injury outcome are highest in non-oblique impact modes, in accordance with the current regulatory test. The indepth data indicate that serious injury occurs at speeds exceeding those in the current regulatory test and that a sizable proportion of bullet vehicles engage at a height above that used for the MDB in the regulatory test. Modifications to the current regulatory test procedure should be considered in order to ensure that regulation is more representative of the real world accident situation.