Field Accident Data Analysis of 2nd Row Children and Individual Case Reviews

Child safety is an important issue. The objective of this study was to analyze field accident data for 0-7 year old children in the 2^nd row by vehicle and crash type, irrespective of restraint use. The data was obtained from NASS-CDS for calendar years 1991-2005. Accidents were selected based on 2^nd row occupancy in towaway light vehicles with model year 1990 or newer. Side impacts caused 30.9% of serious-to-fatal injury (MAIS 3+F) to 2^nd row children followed by frontal impacts (29.8%), rollovers (24.4%) and rear crashes (15.0%). The highest risk for MAIS 3+F was in rollovers (2.8 ± 0.7%) followed by rear (1.4 ± 0.4%), side (1.0 ± 0.2%) and frontal (0.46 ± 0.10%) crashes. The differences are statistically significant (p <0.01).

Individual rear and frontal impact cases were also reviewed to better understand injury mechanisms of children in the 2^nd row. The cases were obtained from the 1997-2005 NASS-CDS electronic database. Rear impact cases were chosen based on serious-to-fatal injury (MAIS 3+F). There were 19 injured children involved in 16 rear impact crashes. 13 (68.4%) injuries were associated with ≥12″ intrusion of their seating area, which pushed the child forward. There was only one child (5.3%) who was injured by rearward rotation of the front seatback. Frontal impact cases were selected by MAIS 3+F injury to the head or spine. There were 28 injured children in 26 frontal impact crashes. Children were most commonly injured by contact with the seatback, B-pillar or other structures in front of them (46.4%) or the child seat (21.4%).

The results of this study suggest that stiffening front seats is not a reasonable approach to improving safety of 2^nd row seated children. Limiting head excursion and shielding the upper body from forces on the child seems more appropriate. The idea of a wrap-around shield integrated with the child seat may have merit in the most severe crashes where the 2^nd row child is injured by intrusion pushing the child forward into the front seatback in rear impacts or the child displacing forward contacting the front seatback or B-pillar in frontal crashes.