Fatally injured truck drivers

Karlson, Trudy A.; Baker, Susan P.; Morton, Bert F.

Affiliations

¹University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

²Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health and Hygiene, Baltimore, Maryland

³Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore, Maryland

Abstract

Autopsy findings on 68 fatally injured truck drivers were reviewed to ascertain severe injuries sustained upon impact with the occupant compartments. Injuries of the head, neck, chest, and abdomen in drivers of vans, pickups, and heavy trucks are discussed with some suggestions as to possible mechanisms. Findings suggest that particular attention is needed to prevent steering assembly injuries of the chest and abdomen in drivers of heavy trucks and pickups, injuries of the cervical spinal column in drivers of pickups, and head injuries of the drivers of vans. It is urged that existing knowledge of crash dynamics and occupant protection be applied to the prevention of injuries to truck occupants.

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
1976	The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 1976 Revision. Morton Grove, IL: Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM); 1976.
1974	Gloyns PF, Mackay GM. Impact performance of some designs of steering assembly in real accidents and under test conditions. In: Proceedings of the 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference. December 4-5, 1974; Ann Arbor, MI. Warrendale, PA: Society of Automotive Engineers:1-27. SAE 741176.

Cited By (4)

Year	Entry
1978	Karlson TA, Baker SP. Fatal occupational injuries associated with motor vehicles. In: 22nd Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). July 10-14, 1978; Ann Arbor, MI.229-241.
1982	Ranney TA. Injury causation and heavy truck occupant crash protection. In: 26th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). October 4-6, 1982; Ottawa, ON.149-165.
1987	Jarl T, Thorson J, Ostman A, Stenlund H, Svensson L. Occupational traffic injuries to truck occupants. In: 31st Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). September 28-30, 1987; New Orleans, LA.201-213.
1981	Quincy R, Ramet M, Uny C. Truck accident investigations: analysis of occupant injuries. In: Proceedings of the 1981 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 8-10, 1981; Salon de Provence, France.70-77.