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Upper Interior Head Impact Protection of Occupants in Real-World Crashes
Technical Paper
976119
Sector:
Language:
English
Abstract
The safety problem associated with head injuries due to impacts
against upper interior components continues to be of concern to
automobile manufacturers and others. Even with increased safety
belt usage, and when the entire fleet would consist of
airbag-equipped vehicles only, the magnitude of fatalities and
serous injuries that are likely to continue to occur would be
significant. Based on 1988-1993 National Accident Sampling System
(NASS) data, it is estimated that about 2200 fatalities and over
3600 serious injuries would likely occur due to head impacts
against upper interior components in light vehicles, annually.
NHTSA conducted research to develop countermeasures to reduce
the head injury potential in upper interior head impacts in
vehicles. A test device and procedure were developed. Using these
along with the standard head injury criterion (HIC), the safety
performance of baseline and modified vehicles were determined by
conducting several tests.
Based on these test results, it is estimated that over 1000
fatalities will be prevented, and up to about 800 serious head
injuries will be reduced by the test procedures developed and
implemented into an amendment to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard (FMVSS) No. 201.