Car/vehicle side impacts: a study of accident characteristics and occupant injuries

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Danner, M.¹; Langwieder, K.¹

Car/vehicle side impacts: a study of accident characteristics and occupant injuries

Proceedings of the 6th International Technical Conference on Experimental Safety Vehicles (ESV)

Affiliations

¹German Association of Third-Party Liability, Accident, and Motor Traffic Insurers (HUK-VERBAND)
Abstract

In recent years, the analysis of real-life accidents and the development of vehicle safety have been concerned above all with the problems of frontal and rear-end collisions. Substantial reductions in the injury risk involved were proved possible.

This focal point of the research work has, however, tended to overshadow the problem of automobile side collisions. So far, very few standardised side collision tests have been conducted, and these have shown minor conformity with the course of real-life collisions. The analysis of real-life accidents has yielded little data on accident characteristics in side collisions and their consequences.

On the basis of representative material in this report, the accident characteristics of car/vehicle collisions are being analysed with particular attention to the change in collision frequency with increasing severity of the injuries to occupants. The mass ratio between frontal- and side-impacted vehicles, the damage to a vehicle from a side impact, and the resultant injuries to occupants, are analysed in detail. The data furnish clear pointers on the measures necessary to improve occupant protection in side collisions. This report is also intended as a contribution towards standarclising the definitions of side collisions, which today still differ to a great extent, and establishing a basis for the creation of real-life-related car collision tests.

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1996	Esumi N, Satake K, Ohmae H, Harigae T, Ueno M. Research concerning vehicle occupant protection for lateral collision: accident analysis of lateral collision and vehicle characteristics in Japanese market. In: Proceedings of the 15th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 13-16, 1996; Melbourne, Australia.1257-1265.
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