Difficulties in leg protection research

Sakamoto, Shinichi

Affiliations

¹Japan Automobile Manufacturer Asssociation, Inc.

Abstract

Following the announcement of a leg protection draft specification by the United Kingdom's Department of Transport (UKDTP) in July 1987, we carried out a full-scale test to observe the effects of the UK-proposed leg protectors for the motorcycle rider. The leg protectors were designed, fabricated and verified to meet the performance requirements by the draft specification. Then, by repeating Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL) testing technique, we tested motorcycle 30 degree angle collisions with a fixed barrier, using a dummy with metallic leg bones, and compared the test results with those of TRRL. Subsequently, we tested three collision modes, including a motorcycle-to-car both moving collision. A dummy utilizing "breakable" leg components, unlike the TRRL metal leg components, was used as the motorcycle occupants. Our studies evidence that the utilization of breakable leg bones is preferable as such permits required evaluation of post impact dummy dynamics. As were shown in our former researches (Refs 1 and 2), the leg protectors studied in some cases had the potential of reducing the motorcyclist's lower leg fracture; however, they also indicated the potential of increasing overall injury which results in a dilemma. In this series of tests, the possibility of reducing rider's lower leg fracture with the leg protector is not observed moreover, the possibility ofincreasing overall injury is indicated again.

In sum, the dilemma in motorcycle leg protection research remains.

Cited Works (4)

Year	Entry
1987	Tadokoro H. Load measuring method of occupant's leg on motorcycle collision. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.869-877.
1987	Fuller PM, Snider JN. Lower leg injuries resulting from motorcycle accidents. In: Proceedings of the 11th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). May 12-15, 1987; Washington, DC.865-869.
1985	Tadokoro H, Fukuda S, Miyazaki K. A study of motorcycle leg protection. In: Proceedings of the 10th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV). July 1-4, 1985; Oxford, England.1100-1108. SAE 856126.
1984	Chinn BP, Macaulay MA. Leg protection for motorcycles. In: Proceedings of the 1984 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact. September 4-6, 1984; Delft, The Netherlands.265-278.

Cited By (4)

Year	Entry
1993	Hell W, Lob G. Typical injury patterns of motorcyclists in different crash types: effectiveness and improvements of countermeasures. In: 37th Annual Proceedings, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine (AAAM). November 4-6, 1993; San Antonio, TX.77-86.
1994	Van Driessche H. Development of an ISO standard for motorcycle research impact test procedures. In: Proceedings of the 14th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 23-26, 1994; Munich, Germany.1162-1176.
1996	Zellner JW, Wiley KD, Broen NL, Newman JA. A standardized motorcyclist impact dummy for protective device research. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1756-1781.
1992	Pedder JB. Characteristics of Serious and Fatal Motorcycle Accidents and the Potential for Injury Prevention [PhD thesis]. Birmingham, UK: University of Birmingham; August 1992.