This article was downloaded by: [Chulalongkorn University]

On: 30 December 2014, At: 14:12

Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House,
37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

International Journal of Crashworthiness

Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tcrs20

Analysis of the kinematics of pregnant drivers during

low-speed frontal vehicle collisions
a b b a b
Y. Motozawa , M. Hitosugi , T. Abe & S. Tokudome
a
Honda R&D Co., Ltd. , 4630 Shimotakanezawa, Haga-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi, Japan
b
Department of Legal Medicine , Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine , 880 Kita-
kobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, Japan
Published online: 22 Jul 2010.

To cite this article: Y. Motozawa , M. Hitosugi , T. Abe & S. Tokudome (2010) Analysis of the kinematics of pregnant
drivers during low-speed frontal vehicle collisions, International Journal of Crashworthiness, 15:3, 235-239, DOI:
10.1080/13588260903102450

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13588260903102450

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained
in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no
representations or warranties whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the
Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors, and
are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and
should be independently verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for
any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever
or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of
the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic
reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any
form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://
www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions
 International Journal of Crashworthiness
Vol. 15, No. 3, June 2010, 235–239

Analysis of the kinematics of pregnant drivers during low-speed frontal vehicle collisions
Y. Motozawaa,b∗ , M. Hitosugib , T. Abea and S. Tokudomeb
a
Honda R&D Co., Ltd., 4630 Shimotakanezawa, Haga-machi, Haga-gun, Tochigi, Japan; b Department of Legal Medicine, Dokkyo
Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kita-kobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun, Tochigi, Japan
(Received 29 May 2009; final version received 4 June 2009)

The authors conducted low-speed frontal sled tests using a dummy to represent the anthropometry of a pregnant woman
at the gestational age of 30 weeks. The authors determined the seating position of the dummy from anthropometric values
obtained from pregnant women with similar dimensions as the dummy. The kinematics of the dummy, such as pressure on the
abdomen during impact, were analysed and compared with those of rear-end collisions. Secondary contact with the steering
Downloaded by [Chulalongkorn University] at 14:12 30 December 2014

wheel occurred in all tests. Wearing a seat belt reduced peak pressure on the abdomen by 50% and prevented the face of the
dummy contacting the steering wheel during low-speed frontal collisions. These findings indicate that wearing a seat belt
protects pregnant drivers during traffic accidents.
Keywords: injury; occupant protection; pregnancy; dummy; foetus

Introduction subsequent spontaneous abortion and those whose pregnan-

According to Connolly et al. [1], 6%–7% of pregnant
women undergo some type of traumatic injury during preg-
nancy, and approximately two thirds of such injuries occur
during traffic accidents. Klinich et al. [7] also reported that
approximately 130,000 women in late-term pregnancy are
involved in traffic accidents in the United States annually
and that the annual estimate of abortions or stillbirths ow-
ing to traffic accidents ranges from 300 to 3800. On the
other hand, since nationwide statistics regarding pregnant
women involved in traffic accidents are not available in
Japan, the actual number of injured pregnant women is
unknown. However, Murao et al. [12] estimated that 1600–
3200 foetal deaths occur annually due to traffic accidents
in Japan. Therefore, pregnancy or foetal safety is likely to
become an important issue in efforts to reduce the number
of traffic accident fatalities in both countries. The authors
previously analysed the relationship between the severity
of injuries sustained by pregnant women and foetal out-
comes, using data from automobile insurance claims and
associated accidents, as well as from injuries to pregnant
women relative to claims for their foetuses [3,4]. Based
on these findings, most claims (46%) were submitted by
women who were driving automobiles. However, the re-
sults of those studies indicated difficulties with predict-
ing negative foetal outcome based on injury severity to
the mother after a slight impact such as that associated
with rear-end collisions, which are the most frequent type
of vehicle accident in Japan. Injury severity scores did
not significantly differ between pregnant occupants with
cies were uneventful in low-energy collisions, although the
scores were significantly higher among pregnant occupants
whose foetuses died in high-energy collisions. Therefore,
the mechanisms of injuries to pregnant women need to be
analysed under the various circumstances experienced by
pregnant women during collisions not only at high-energy
but also at low-energy impact. Japan and some other coun-
tries exempt pregnant women from mandatory seat belt
use based on health reasons [9,14]. Thus, pregnant oc-
cupants of vehicles in Japan including drivers might not
be wearing seat belts at the time of involvement in a ve-
hicle accident. Due to the absence of nationwide statis-
tics, information about traffic accidents involving preg-
nant women in Japan is very limited. Thus, the injury
mechanisms to pregnant women and foetuses, especially
during slight impact, have not yet been completely ex-
plained.
A previous study analysed the outcomes of a series of
automotive rear impact sled tests using an anthropomor-
phic dummy of a pregnant Japanese woman to understand
the injury mechanisms to pregnant drivers and associated
foetal outcomes [10]. The results of that study showed that
the unbelted dummy experienced secondary contact to the
steering wheel due to rebound, resulting in increased pres-
sure on the abdomen, even during relatively minor rear-end
collisions with slight impact. The investigators assumed
from these findings that pregnant drivers would contact the
steering wheel during low-speed frontal, as well as rear,
collisions.

∗
Corresponding author. Email: yasuki motozawa@n.t.rd.honda.co.jp
ISSN: 1358-8265 print / ISSN: 1754-2111 online
C 2010 Taylor & Francis
DOI: 10.1080/13588260903102450
http://www.informaworld.com
 236 Y. Motozawa et al.
Duma et al. [2] assessed pregnant passengers using fi-
nite element model simulation to estimate the amount of
stress exerted on the abdomen. However, the seating pos-
tures applied in these studies were based on measurements
using the interior buck at the University of Michigan Trans-
portation Research Institute (UMTRI), which differs from
current Japanese vehicles, in terms of inclination of the
cushion surface which is assumed to affect the overall kine-
matics of the occupant. Moreover, Duma et al. examined
severe injuries caused by relatively high-energy frontal im-
pact. No other studies have examined the responses of preg-
nant drivers during slight impact, especially when not wear-
ing a seat belt.
To understand the injury mechanisms to pregnant
Japanese drivers and associated foetal outcomes, the au-
thors conducted two sled tests to examine the effect of
Downloaded by [Chulalongkorn University] at 14:12 30 December 2014
vehicular low-speed frontal impact upon an anthropomor-
phic dummy of a pregnant woman. The seated posture of
the dummy was based on seat adjustments made by preg-
nant Japanese volunteers in an actual passenger vehicle.
The kinematics of the dummy such as pressure on the ab-
domen during impact were measured and compared with
those of rear-end collisions, and the mechanisms of injury
to pregnant Japanese drivers are discussed.
Methods
Dummy
The dummy used herein was the latest version of the Ma-
ternal Anthropometric Measurement Apparatus, version 2B
(MAMA-2B), developed by First Technology Safety Sys-
tems and the UMTRI [8,13,15]. This dummy is based on
the Hybrid-3 American female (AF) 5th-percentile dummy,
with the pelvis, sternum and ribcage modified to accom-
modate a silicone rubber bladder representing the uterus at
30 weeks of gestation (Figure 1). The bladder is roughly
spherical, approximately 200 mm in diameter, and contains
3000 cm3 of water representing the amniotic fluid when in
Figure 1. The MAMA-2B pregnant dummy and its abdominal
bladder.
use. Two pressure sensors are installed on the anterior and
posterior surfaces inside the bladder.
Test set-up
The authors previously investigated the effect of secondary
contact to a pregnant driver within a vehicle using the
smallest available adult female dummy (AF 5th-percentile
dummy) [10]. The authors measured the seated posture at
approximately 30 weeks of gestation of volunteers who
were regular drivers (all results are shown as means ± SD
unless otherwise stated) [11]. The seating position of the
dummy was determined from the means of anthropomet-
ric values obtained from seven pregnant women aged 28.7
± 2.4 years with similar dimensions as the dummy: height,
152.6 ± 3.0 cm; weight, 54.7 ± 2.8 kg; gestation, 30.8 ± 1.0
weeks; abdominal circumference, 86.4 ± 4.2 cm. The mean
seat slide was placed at 65 ± 30 mm from the full-forward
position and reclined at 7.4 ± 3.0◦ from the full-forward
position (torso angle, 13◦ ). The horizontal distance from the
lower rim of the steering wheel to the abdomen was 107 ±
4.2 mm. The authors determined the posture of the dummy
at a seat slide position of 70 mm from the full-forward posi-
tion (50 mm forward from the neutral position) and reclined
at 8◦ (torso angle, 21◦ ), considering the minimal pitch of
the seat adjusters. The seating position of the dummy was
the same in the present and previous studies.
Figure 2 shows the test set-up using the Instron servo
sled apparatus. The sled buck comprised the same body of
the passenger vehicle that was used for postural measure-
ments. The seat, seat belt, instrument panel, steering wheel
and steering column installed in the sled buck were identi-
cal to those in the vehicle and placed in the same relative
position.
Figure 2. Test set-up.
 International Journal of Crashworthiness 237

Test conditions
Two tests were performed, but one test was done with-
out a seat belt. To represent low-speed frontal impact to
a passenger vehicle driven by a pregnant woman, the de-
celeration waveform of the real vehicle with a
V of 3.6
m/s was applied to the sled. Figure 3 shows the deceleration
pulse applied to the test set-up. Experiments proceeded both
Figure 4. Acceleration of the chest in the test with a seat belt.
with and without the seat belt at
V of 3.6 m/s. The airbag
and seat belt pre-tensioner were not activated throughout
the tests. The authors measured dummy responses such as
chest and pelvic acceleration and pressure on the abdominal
bladder (uterus) during impact.

Results
Downloaded by [Chulalongkorn University] at 14:12 30 December 2014

Figures 4 and 5 show the time history of acceleration of Figure 5. Acceleration of the chest in the test without a seat belt.
the chest, and Figures 6 and 7 show the time history of
horizontal acceleration of the pelvis of the dummy. Figures
8 and 9 show the time history of anterior and posterior
pressures on the abdominal bladder of the dummy (hereafter
referred to as abdominal pressure).
When wearing a seat belt, the dummy moved forward by
100 mm from its initial position at 70 ms from the initiation
of impact (onset of sled pulse); its abdomen contacted the
Figure 6. Horizontal acceleration of the pelvis in the test with a
rim of the steering wheel and then rebounded backward, but seat belt.
the chest and head did not make any contact.
In the test without a seat belt, the abdomen of the dummy
contacted the steering wheel at 70 ms, while the chest did
not. The face of the dummy contacted the upper rim of
the steering wheel at 130 ms and subsequently rebounded
backward.

Discussion Figure 7. Horizontal acceleration of the pelvis in the test without

Abdominal pressure in the test with a seat belt peaked at a seat belt.
70 ms from the initiation of impact. At this point, the an-
terior abdominal pressure reached 1.4-fold that of the pos-
terior abdominal pressure. The curve of their time history
indicated mild onset. These responses also closely corre-
sponded with the time history of pelvic acceleration. These
characteristics were similar to the response of the dummy
observed in previous rear-impact tests during backward
movement in the first phase of impact and that of the un-
belted dummy after rebound. The similarity suggests that Figure 8. Abdominal pressure in the test with a seat belt.

Figure 3. Deceleration pulse applied to the test set-up. Figure 9. Abdominal pressure in the test without a seat belt.
 238 Y. Motozawa et al.
inertial loading due to restraint force from the seat belt
applied to the dummy was the dominant contributor to the
abdominal pressure in the test with a seat belt. However, the
curve of the time history of the anterior pressure indicated
slight deformation at 70 ms when the pressure peaked, cor-
responding with the timing of the contact with the steering
wheel. Thus the peak of pressure was considered to be af-
fected by the secondary contact. In the test without a seat
belt, both the anterior and posterior abdominal pressure
curves indicated a steep onset at about 70 ms from impact
initiation. The values were maximal at about 120 ms, when
the pressure was equal on both sides. These findings indi-
cated that abdominal compression caused by the steering
wheel and the lumbar spine was the dominant contributor
to the pressure peak.
The present study found that the lower rim of the steer-
Downloaded by [Chulalongkorn University] at 14:12 30 December 2014
ing wheel contacted the inferior sternum of the dummy,
where the fundus of the uterus (bladder of the dummy)
is located. It is above the level of the umbilicus at which
the abdominal protrusion of a pregnant woman is maxi-
mal. Rupp et al. [15] conducted a series of sled tests using
the MAMA-2B dummy during its development and exam-
ined the correlation between abdominal pressure and
V
during vehicle collisions. They consequently derived a cor-
relation between peak anterior abdominal pressure and ad-
verse foetal outcome from actual case analyses conducted
by Klinich et al. [6]. Rupp et al. designed the test set-up to
compress the abdomen of the dummy with the lower rim of
the steering wheel at the umbilicus level. Therefore, the risk
curve they derived with regard to predicted foetal outcomes
should be adjusted to consider the position of the abdomen
of the dummy relative to the steering wheel.
The average longitudinal distance between the steering
wheel and the abdomen of pregnant drivers is approximately
100 mm less than that of non-pregnant women [11]. The
present study represents low-speed frontal impact to a pas-
senger vehicle. Secondary contact with the steering wheel
occurred in the test with, as well as without, a seat belt, de-
spite the relatively slight impact. However, the peak value of
the abdominal pressure was reduced by 50% for the dummy
wearing a seat belt. Moreover, the abdomen of the dummy
made secondary contact with interior vehicle components
in both tests, whereas the face of the dummy tested with-
out a seat belt contacted the steering wheel. These findings
indicate that a seat belt can reduce the severity of injury to
pregnant drivers during low-speed, as well as high-energy,
impact.
Pregnant women are exempt from mandatory seat belt
use in Japan for health reasons. These regulations are not
intended to relieve pregnant women of the requirement to
wear their seat belts under all circumstances. For example,
a low rate of seat belt use among pregnant women at all
terms of pregnancy is a nationwide concern in Japan [3,5].
One conceivable reason for this is insufficient understand-
ing of the law. Since the severity of injuries sustained by
occupants might be considered minimal in low-speed col-
lisions, pregnant as well as non-pregnant drivers might not
understand the value of wearing a seat belt. However, the
findings of the present study suggest that seat belts protect
pregnant Japanese women during various types of acci-
dents, and thus, pregnant drivers and passengers should be
encouraged to use them.
Conclusion
Two tests examined the effects of low-speed frontal impact
on a pregnant dummy seated in a position that was mod-
elled on that of pregnant Japanese volunteers in an actual
passenger vehicle. One test was performed with a seat belt,
and another was done without a seat belt. The response of
the dummy and pressure on the abdomen with and without
a seat belt during impact were analysed. Secondary contact
with the steering wheel occurred with and without a seat
belt. However, the test with a seat belt showed that the peak
abdominal pressure was half of that in the test without a seat
belt. Moreover, in the test without a seat belt, the face of the
dummy contacted the upper rim of the steering wheel. The
findings of the present study suggest that seat belts protect
pregnant drivers during various types of accidents.
References
[1] A.M. Connolly, V.L. Katz, K.L. Bash, M.J. McMahon, and
W.F. Hansen, Trauma and pregnancy, Am. J. Perinatol. 14
(1997), pp. 331–336.
[2] S.M. Duma, D.M. Moorcroft, J.D. Stizel, and G.G. Duma,
A computational model of the pregnant occupant: effects of
restraint usage and occupant position of fatal injury risk,
19th ESV Conference, Washington, DC, 2005.
[3] M. Hitosugi, M. Kido, M. Maegawa, T. Nagai, S. Tokudome,
and Y. Motozawa, The benefits of seatbelt use in pregnant
drivers, Forensic Sci. Int. 169 (2007), pp. 274–275.
[4] M. Hitosugi, Y. Motozawa, and M. Kido, Traffic injures of the
pregnant women and fetal or neonatal outcomes, Forensic
Sci. Int. 159 (2006), pp. 51–54.
[5] M. Ichikawa, S. Nakahara, T. Okubo, and S. Wakai, Car
seatbelt use during pregnancy in Japan: Determinants and
policy implications, Injury Prev. 9 (2003), pp. 169–172.
[6] K.D. Klinich, L.W. Schneider, B. Eby, J.D. Rapp, and M.D.
Pearlman, Seated anthropometry during pregnancy, Final
Rep. No. UMTRI 99-16, University of Michigan Transporta-
tion Research Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, 1999.
[7] K.D. Klinich, L.W. Schneider, J.M. Moore, and M.D. Pearl-
man, Investigations of crashes involving pregnant occu-
pants, Final Rep. No. UMTRI 99-29, University of Michigan
Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, MI, 1999.
[8] K.D. Klinich, L.W. Schneider, J.D. Rapp, and M.D. Pearl-
man, Challenges in frontal crash protection of pregnant
drivers based on anthropometric considerations, SAE Paper
No. 1999-01-0711, SAE, Detroit, MI, 1999.
[9] G. McGwin, P. Willey, A. Ware, C. Kohler, T. Kirby, and
L.W. Rue. A focused educational intervention can promote
the proper application of seat belts during pregnancy, J.
Trauma. 56 (2004), pp. 1016–1021.
[10] Y. Motozawa, Y.M. Hitosugi, and S. Tokudome, An exper-
imental analysis of the abdominal pressure of the pregnant
 International Journal of Crashworthiness
occupants during automotive collision using AF5 pregnant
dummy, 20th ESV Conference, Lyon, France, 2007.
[11] Y. Motozawa, M. Hitosugi, and M.S. Tokudome, Analysis
of seating position and anthropometric parameters of preg-
nant Japanese drivers, Traffic Injury Prev. 9 (2008), pp. 77–
82.
[12] H. Murao, K. Miura, N. Ohata, T. Nakamoto, K. Kin-
jou, Y. Takahashi, and M. Hashiguchi, Clinical study
of 109 cases of injury during pregnancy, JSAE Annual
Congress, Yokohama, Japan, 2002 [in Japanese with English
abstract].
Downloaded by [Chulalongkorn University] at 14:12 30 December 2014
239
[13] J.D. Rupp, K.D. Klinich, S. Moss, J. Zhou, M.D. Pearlman,
and L.W. Schneider, Development and testing of a prototype
pregnant abdomen for the small-female Hybrid III ATD,
Stapp Car Crash J. 45 (2001), pp. 61–78.
[14] H. Weiss, H. Sirin H, J.A. Levine, and E. Sauber, Interna-
tional survey of seat belt use exemptions, Injury Prev. 12
(2006), pp. 258–261.
[15] Y. Zhao, M. Ratingen, C. Yao, G. Brill, S. Goldner, and R.
Huang, Enhancement and evaluation of a small female Hy-
brid III pregnant dummy, International IRCOBI Conference,
Madrid, Spain, 2006.