This Paper reports on the results of a comprehensive crash-injury investigation currently undcrway in England and has principally addrcssed the remaining injury problerns associated with restrained occupants.

As a result of legislation introduced in 1983. seat belt wearing rates are of the order of 95 per cent for front seat occupants. The fitment and therefore the wearing rate for rear seat occupants is low but it is hoped that compulsory fitting of rear belts in new cars sold after April 1987 will lead to a corresponding reduction in rear seat occupant casualties.

The head and chest are seen as vulnerable areas requiring added protection, principally due to steering wheel contact (drivers) in frontal impacts and intruding objects with side impacts. The majority of struck-side occupant injuries for both chest and abdomen are due to door contact usually supported by an external object. Footwell intrusion is seen as a major source of lower limb injuries.

Impact zones and collision speeds have shown the contact areas to be considered for type approval testing. The majority of accident-involved cars are impacted by other vehicles which confirms that the vehicle structure and any modification to it still has a major part to play in occupant protection. A feature of the study is the estimation of velocity change in most of the impacts, the resulting indications being valuable for the selection of test conditions for regulatory tests.

The correct use of padded structures, particularly to the steering wheel, together with seat belt pretensioners could further assist in the reduction of casualties amongst the restrained car occupant population.