This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
Driver Injuries in US Single-Event Rollovers
Technical Paper
2000-01-0633
ISSN: 0148-7191, e-ISSN: 2688-3627
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Event:
SAE 2000 World Congress
Language:
English
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to investigate occupant injuries which may be sustained during a single-event crash with known roll mechanism.
The data was obtained from the weighted National Automotive Sampling System/ Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) for calendar years 1992 to 1996. The effect of number of rollover turns, roll direction, ejection and belt usage on driver injury responses was analyzed in single-event trip-overs. Trip-overs were chosen for the analysis because they account for over 50% of rollover crashes. The number of rollovers was divided in 3 categories: ¼ to ½ turn, ¾ to 1 turn and above 1 turn. Roll direction was either roll-left or a rollright along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. Roll-left represents a roll with the driver side leading, while a roll right is with the right front passenger side leading.
In the database used in this study, there were three times more belted drivers than unbelted. Ejection was more frequent when the driver was unbelted than belted. Of the 50,504 unbelted drivers, 27% were completely/ partially ejected, while, of the 150,426 belted drivers, less than 1% were ejected. The rate to be seriously injured was higher when the driver was completely or partially ejected. Drivers in a roll-left trip-over were most commonly ejected through the left front area (for example, left door) of the vehicle, while drivers in a rollright were ejected from the left front area and the roof. Of the non-ejected drivers, the rate to be seriously injured seemed higher for unbelted drivers than belted, at 2.2% and 1.1% respectively. For belted drivers in a roll-left, injuries were most frequent in the head, lower extremity (LX), thorax and upper extremities (UX), while, in a rollright, injuries were most often to the spine, head, and thorax. Spinal injuries resulted when the vehicles rolled right, independent of the number of rolls. Unbelted drivers who rolled left, sustained serious injuries to the head, LX, thorax and UX, while those who rolled-right had serious injuries to the spine, head and thorax.
Field data can be useful in the development of safetycountermeasures for rollovers as it provides insights on the significance of various parameters. The results of this study suggest the need to first prevent ejection by keeping the occupant in the vehicle. This could be accomplished by changing driver behaviour through increased seat belt use and through technology by helping to obstruct ejection paths. Occupant/vehicle contacts should also be reduced to minimize the potential for injuries. In addition, a better understanding of the head, thorax, spine and lower extremity injury mechanisms is essential for the development of future safety-countermeasures.
Recommended Content
Topic
Citation
Parenteau, C. and Shah, M., "Driver Injuries in US Single-Event Rollovers," SAE Technical Paper 2000-01-0633, 2000, https://doi.org/10.4271/2000-01-0633.Also In
References
- Evans, L. 1990 Restraint Effectiveness, Occupant Ejection from Cars, and Fatality Reduction Accident Analysis and Prevention 22 2
- Howard, R.P. 1999 Initial Occupant Kinematics in the High Velocity Vehicle Rollover Passenger Car Rollover TOPTEC San Diego, CA January 21 22
- Huelke, D.C. Compton, C. Studer, R.M. 1985 Injury SeverityEjection and Occupant Contacts in Passenger Car Rollover Crashes SAE Technical Paper No. 850336
- Lau, E. Ray, R. Parenteau, C.S. 1999 Characteristics of Children in Rollover Collisions Proceedings of Child Occupant Protection in Motor Vehicle Crashes Barcelona, Spain 3 15
- Moffatt, E. Cooper, E. 1997 Head Excursion of Seat Belted Cadaver, Volunteers and Hybrid III ATD in a Dynamic Rollover Fixture 41th Stapp Conference, SAE Technical Paper No 973347
- Partyka, S. 1980 Light Passenger Vehicle Rollovers with Serious Occupant Injury Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, Rulemaking, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration April 15
- Yoganadan, N. Pintar, F. Haffner, M. Malman, D. 1989 Epidemiology and Injury Biomechanics of Motor Vehicle Related Trauma to the Spine SAE Publication 892438 223