Vehicle and injury data from 919 accidents in the UK are analysed for frequency, cause, and consequences of occupant ejection. Injury consequences are shown to be severs, the fatality rate rising with ejection by a factor of 4.3 among unrestrained occupants, and evidence is offered that ejection prevention would reduce injury levels to those of not-ejected occupants.
The rear window was found in this sample to be the most frequent ejection route, followed by side doors, side glass, and the tailgate.
Complete ejection was slightly more frequent from hatchbacks than from saloons. Door openings are analysed for frequency and release mechanism, and the ejection risk for exposed occupants is seen to be very high.
These results are considered in relation to possible countermeasures, of which restraint use is shown to be by far the most effective, and bonded laminated or glass-plastic glazing is particularly recommended for rear windows.