The recent increase in safety belt use and the corresponding phase-in of supplemental air bags has brought about a significant decline in frontal impact injuries and fatalities. This trend will continue worldwide as belt use continues to increase and more cars can be fitted with supplemental dual air bags. As a result of declining front impact trauma, increased attention in the 1990’s is being given to side impacts and disabling lower limb injuries. Attention to side impact is not new. Research and evolutionary vehicle enhancements have been made for more than four decades. In the 1950’s, Ford offered safety belts and strengthened door latches to help reduce the risk of ejections in side impacts and other collision modes. General Motors developed side door beams and offered them in its products in the late 1960’s. The US. Government made door beams mandatory for passenger cars as of January 1, 1973. A major inhibitor to progress in side impact safety has been the lack of human-like test dummies and an understanding of injury mechanisms. Amid widespread controversy and criticism of its dummy and injury criteria, the US. Government issued the world’s first dynamic side impact regulation, which begins phase-in this year and affects all passenger cars beginning September 1, 1996. A regulation using a completely distinct dummy, injury criteria, and barrier is nearing approval in Europe.

In this paper we examine from the perspective of a global manufacturer of cars and trucks some trends in side impact occupant protection and their effects on future products. We look at interactions of side impact protection improvements with other societal goals such as fuel efficiency and the environment. We also discuss emerging technologies such as side air bags, the potentially adverse consequences of international disharmony of side impact regulations, and the benefits of global agreement on injury mechanisms and injury criteria. Finally, we stress the need for a family of anthropomorphic test dummies.