A survey of accident statistics and harm to the head and neck from side impact and rollovers, suggest that vehicle upper structure should be the next high priority goal in reducing severe casualties. Contrary to contentions that roof strength has little influence on these injuries, these results from a multiplicity of studies, indicate that roof collapse should be eliminated, passive interior padding improved, laminated and retained glazing be installed and restraints improved by pretensioning retractors. A statistical analysis of the 1982 and 1983 NASS files of rollover accidents, indicates a greatly increased risk of severe injury to occupants under a collapsing roof section. The increased risk was also demonstrated by detailed investigation and analysis of 15 rollover accidents using the protocol of SAE #890382 (Live Subject Safety Research). The instrumented data from sixteen nearly identical, rollover tests conducted by General Motors with conventional and rollcaged roofs and unrestrained and belted Hybrid III dummies were analyzed and confirmed the increased risk. Limiting the deformation extent of vehicle roofs by lightweight structural changes and simple and inexpensive force limiting, energy absorbing interior surface modifications, were demonstrated to reduce the risk of severe injuries by a factor of at least four. Further reductions can result from maintaining the vehicle‘s directional stability by Anti-Lock Braking Systems. limiting an occupant's contact velocity by emergency tensioning retractors 0n restraints and by minimizing partial ejection potential by laminated and retained glazing.