“A more synergistic view or approach to motor vehicle safety design aspects is needed.” (Robbins – SAE-Paper 970488).

The aim of this work is to indicate some feasible innovations that may lead to a better side impact protection, pointing out some aspects that can be developed thoroughly within the corresponding settings and using the appropriate resources. The mentioned innovations will be analyzed from a general and synergistic point of view, using basic engineering and physics principles, and considering the following:​

• simulations will be performed using a simplified model consisting on a single-mass/inelasticspring system.
• some physiological premises will be considered [such as “direct impacts should be avoided at any place of the organism”;​ “high accelerations can be sustained during short periods of time”;​ etc.].
• the bases of safety in road crashes will be established, namely “control the perfect operation and use of the safety devices”;​ “maintain the structural integrity of the occupants' vital volume”;​ “absorb the whole kinetic energy both of the vehicle and of the occupants”;​ etc. Subsequently, these bases will lead to determining the main functions that the compartment, external/internal structure and restraint devices should perform to enhance the safety they offer.
• the protection offered by current safety devices will be analyzed, segmented into three groups [pre-impact, impact and post-impact].

All of this will allow the discussion of some feasible innovations leading to better side impact protection. Finally, considering the inherent reluctance to introduce valuable safety innovations into current automobiles [e.g.:​ four-point seatbelts] a strategy to perform this in a successful manner will be discussed.