This content is not included in
your SAE MOBILUS subscription, or you are not logged in.
The Effects of Restraint Use and Mass in “Downsized” Cars
Annotation ability available
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
This paper examines the effects that downsizing has had on occupant injury. Statistical models are derived which demonstrate the relative risks associated with downsized cars and restraint use. Then actual occupant injuries are analysed to show how the total pattern of occupant injuries changes with downsizing.
Each additional thousand pounds of vehicle mass decreases the odds of a driver injury in a crash by 34 percent when the driver is not restrained. For restrained drivers, this decrease is 25 percent per thousand. Restraint use further decreases the odds of a driver injury by two-thirds. To gain the same reduction in injury odds afforded the belted driver of a 2500 pound passenger car, the unbelted driver requires a 4325 pound car.
For unrestrained occupants, the instrument panel, steering assembly and windshield (in frontal impacts) are the most frequent sources of injury. Restraint use reduces the chance of striking the windshield or instrument panel and increases the relative importance of the side interior surfaces as injury sources.
Recommended Content
Authors
Topic
Citation
Jones, I. and Whitfield, R., "The Effects of Restraint Use and Mass in “Downsized” Cars," SAE Technical Paper 840199, 1984, https://doi.org/10.4271/840199.Also In
References
- Walker, S.H. Duncan, D.B. “Estimate of the Probability of an Event as a Function of Several Independent Variables.” Biometrika 54 167 179 1967
- Harrell Frank E. “Proc Logist” SUGI Supplemental Library User's Guide SAS Institute, Inc. Cary, N.C. 1983
- “New Car Assessment Program” Docket 79-17, Office of Automotive Ratings NHTSA Washington, D.C.
- “Passenger Car Specifications” Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association Detroit 300 New Center Building, Detroit, Michigan 48202
- Stewart, R.J. Stutts, J.C. “A Categorical Analysis of the Relationship Between Vehicle Weight and Driver Injury to Automobile Accidents.” Highway Safety Research Center Report for DOT-HS-4-00897 May 31 1978
- Mela, D.F. “A Statistical Relation Between Car Weight and Injuries,” Technical Note. NHTSA, Report No. DOT-HS-801-629. (Presented at Society for Automotive Engineers, Automotive Engineering Congress and Exposition February 25 1975 Detroit, Michigan
- Joksch, H.C. “Analysis of the Future Effects of Fuel Shortage and Increased Small Car Usage Upon Traffic Deaths and Injuries,” Final Report. NHTSA contract no. DOT-TSC-839, PB-251 892
- O'Day, J. Golomb, D. Cooley, P. “A Statistical Description of Large and Small Car Involvement in Accidents.” HIT LAB Reports 3 9
- O'Day, J. Kaplan, R. “How Much Safer Are You in a Larger Car?” HIT LAB Reports 5 9 1975
- Evans, L. “Car Mass and Likelihood of Occupant Fatality.” G.M. Report GMR-3974 February 1982
- O'Neill, B. Ginsburg, M. Robertson, L. “The Effects of Vehicle Size on Passenger Car Occupant Death Rates.” SAE Paper No. 770808 September 1977
- Malliaris, A.C. Hitchcock, R. Hedlund, J. “A Search for Priorities in Crash Protection.” SAE Paper No. 820242 International Congress and Exposition Detroit February 1982
- Jones, I.S. Shaibani, S.J. “A Comparison of Injury Severity and Crash Severity Distributions and their Application to Standards for Occupant Protection.” Proceedings of the 7th International IROCBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impact September 1982