This paper briefly details the current arrangements in Britain for examining road vehicle crashes and the causes of injury to vehicle occupants. The use of this data by the Department of Transport’s Vehicle Inspectorate to examine vehicle secondary safety performance is described. In addition to providing research data for consideration by vehicle manufacturers when formulating new model designs, this accident data has been analysed with some success in order to identify what design or manufacturing related features of current models could be usefully improved.

Corrective action by the vehicle manufacturer within the current model lifespan will assist in reducing the number or severity of occupant injuries attributed to that model. The earlier in the model lifespan that any design related concerns can be identified and corrected, the greater will be the total saving in occupant injuries. Some examples of the type of analyses which can be undertaken using this data is described.