In many motor vehicle accidents the driver receives blunt trauma to the thorax when thrown forward at impact, striking the steering wheel. Injuries often appear minor and the associated sequelae, being generally expected, may cause other symptoms to be lightly dismissed or totally ignored.

Federally mandated "ignition interlock passenger restraint devices," hoped previously to represent an effective solution to deceleration injury, proved less than satisfactory. Often lap/shoulder harness combinations are not used, by-passed or entirely disconnected.

In this study two accident victim cohorts and a third, matched, accident-free cohort were identified and evaluated. These data suggest many, otherwise healthy drivers, frequently, suffer an insidious subclinical alteration in ECG patterns. Whether thoracic trauma predisposes an individual to eventual cardiac pathology remains unknown;​ however, these findings confirm the necessity for increased vigilence and consideration.

A detailed epidemiologic analysis of extensive data with conclusions is presented.