Head and facial injuries are becoming less frequent and less severe in modern clay cars. Volvo has conducted accident research with respect to frequency, location and severity. Comparisons between belted drivers and front seat passengers are made. Only about 6 percent of the passengers that sustained some kind of injury had a facial injury. The corresponding figure for the driver was 10 percent. With respect to fracture and contusion, the following facial areas emerged as the most often injured:​ nasal region, forehead and mandible.

The fracture and contusion type injuries can be detected by using a new load sensing face with piezo electric sensors. This face was subjected to some P572 calibration tests with results similar to those obtained with a standard Hybrid II head. The face was mounted on a Hybrid II dummy and subjected to sled testing. The kinematics were not affected by the umbilical cables etc. Consequently, the face can be used in normal testing without significantly affecting other measured safety parameters such as the HIC. Also, for future biomechanical research to establish injury criteria, the load sensing face promises to be a helpful tool.