In the case of characteristic quantities with an unusually high scatter and remarkably high uncertainties in establishing limit values, it is often very problematic to determine a particular value as the development target. This value must keep a defined safety margin to a limit value that is probably set down by regulations. But often a certain safety margin to the requirements of reality has already been observed when establishing limit values. In the case of the values referred to here, this double safety might-on the one hand- lead to development targets that are technically not feasible or only at unacceptable expenditure. On the other hand, this might compel actual safety reserves that no sensible person would ever demand.

For this reason, the example of HIC, the head injury criterion, is used to demonstrate the possibility of finding development targets and limits for specifications and regulations without being forced to keep unrealistic safety margins. It becomes obvious that in the example of HIC, a limit of 1,500 is much more realistic than, for example, a limit of 1,000.