Biomechanical risk factors for children in cars and aggravation by misuse of restraint systems

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Langwieder, K.¹; Hummel, Th.¹

Biomechanical risk factors for children in cars and aggravation by misuse of restraint systems

Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV)

Affiliations

¹HUK-Verband, Germany
Abstract
The intensified research into accidents with children in cars during the last few years has provided more knowledge; safety standards have been updated and new solutions to problems are to be expected. In spite of this there are problem areas which are not sufficiently analysed yet. These are
- Level of biomechanical tolerance of children, especially injuries to head, neck and abdomen
- Safety measures for increased protection of children involved in side impacts
- Use of adult belts as "suitable system" for children up to 12 years of age
- Prevention of misuse
These problem fields are analysed on the basis of interviews, crash tests and new accident material "Child Safety 95". A representative survey of parents, which has been started recently, indicates that there is a substantial potential for misuse (about 40%). Preventing misuse has to be an aim of development for the future. A crash-test programme has been started to analyse injury mechanisms of children restrained with adult belts and to explain observations from real accidents. The influence of the special misuse "children restrained with adult belts" on injury risks is analysed in real accidents. This accident study showed that using adult belts too early results in a roughly two- to threefold risk increase - chiefly by raising the number of abdominal injuries.

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Cited By (15)

Year	Entry
1997	Henderson M, Brown J, Griffiths M. Children in adult seat belts and child harnesses: crash sled comparisons of dummy responses. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Child Occupant Protection Symposium. November 12, 1997; Orlando, FL.159-163. SAE 973308.
1997	Hummel T, Langwieder K, Finkbeiner F, Hell W. Injury risks, misuse rates and the effect of misuse depending on the kind of child restraint system. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Child Occupant Protection Symposium. November 12, 1997; Orlando, FL.165-180. SAE 973309.
1997	Langwieder K, Hell W, Lowne R. Development of a sled-based impact test for child restraints in side collisions. In: Proceedings of the 2nd Child Occupant Protection Symposium. November 12, 1997; Orlando, FL.207-216. SAE 973313.
2002	Rouhana SW. Biomechanics of abdominal trauma. In: Nahum AM, Melvin JW, eds. Accidental Injury: Biomechanics and Prevention. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 2002:405-453.
2000	Arbogast KB, Moll EK, Morris SD, Anderko RL, Durbin DR, Winston FK. Factors influencing pediatric injury in side impact collisions. In: 44th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 2-4, 2000; Chicago, IL.
2013	Hauschild HW, Humm JR, Yoganandan N. Injury potential at center rear seating positions in rear-facing child restraint systems in side impacts. In: 57th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 22-25, 2013; Quebec City, QC.281-295.
1994	Langwieder K, Bäumler H. Priorities of real car crashes and the agreement of real accidents with results from crash testing. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 23-26, 1994; Munich, Germany.788-811.
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2007	Johannsen H, Schindler V. Development and assessment of a surface force abdominal sensor. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 18-21, 2007; Lyon, France.
2005	Johannsen H, Alonzo F, Goubel C, Schindler V. Abdominal injuries, injury criteria, injury severity levels and abdominal sensors for child dummies of the "q" family. In: Proceedings of the 2005 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 21-23, 2005; Prague, Czech Republic.201-212.
2007	Johannsen H, Alonzo F, Schindler V. Abdominal sensors for child dummies of the Q family, injury criteria and injury risk curves. In: Proceedings of the 2007 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 19-21, 2007; Maastricht, The Netherlands.389-392.
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in press	Hauschild HW. Rear-Facing Child Restraint Device Performance in Side Impact Crashes [Master's thesis]. University of Wisconsin – Whitewater.