VEHICLE OCCUPANT

PROTECTION

Presented by Jean Triest

Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety
2005 NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts
• 43,443 crash related deaths
An average of 119 persons died each day in motor
vehicle crashes in 2005 - one every 12 minutes
• Passenger vehicles fatalities (31,415):
– 13,014 were restrained
– 16,172 were NOT restrained
– Over half of teen occupants (57%), ages
16-20, were NOT restrained

• <3 million injuries (2,699,000)

Traffic Safety Facts
• Motor Vehicle crashes are the leading
cause of death in the US for ages 3-33.

• From 1975 through 2005: an estimated

211,128 lives were saved by safety belts.

• Between 1987 and 2005: 19,659 lives

were saved by airbags.
Improper versus Proper Positioning of a Lap Belt

video 3
Newton’s Law Of Motion
• An object in motion remains in
motion at the original speed until
acted on by an outside force.
• The outside force…
– Can be harmful (e.g., the steering
wheel, windshield, pavement, etc.)
– Can be designed to protect (e.g.,
safety belt or CRS)
 Three Collisions in a Crash
1st: Vehicle Collision
2nd: Human Collision
3rd: Internal Collision

1st 2nd 3rd

Crash Forces
Weight x Speed = Restraining Force
100 lbs. x 30 MPH = 3000 lbs. of force
150 lbs. x 30 MPH = 4500 lbs. of force

100 lbs. x 55 MPH = 5500 lbs. of force

150 lbs. x 55 MPH = 8250 lbs. of force

100 lbs. x 65 MPH = 6500 lbs. of force

150 lbs. x 65 MPH = 9750 lbs. of force
Types of Crashes
• Frontal
• Lateral (Side Impact)
• Rear-end
• Rollover
Frontal Crashes
• Most frequent type, but
not necessarily most
severe
• Common injuries to
unrestrained
occupants:
– Fractures of the skull,
spine, & ribs
– Cuts and bruises to the
head & face
– Injuries to larynx, liver,
& spleen
Air Bags: Frontal

Driver

Passenger
Knee
Lateral (Side Impact) Crashes
• Typically the most
deadly type of crash
due to less crush
space
• Minor differences in #
of fatalities between
left & right side
• Common injuries
include:
– Chest & pelvic injuries
– Facial and skull fractures
Side Air Bags
Chest

Chest/Head

Head only
Rear-end Crashes
• Usually less severe
• Common injuries
include
– Cervical fractures
– Stretching/tearing of
neck ligaments and
tendons (whiplash)
– Properly set head
restraint can decrease
risk of injury
Rollovers
• Rollovers = Side to
side & vaults
• Severity of injury
depends upon number
of rotations etc.
• Often cause ejection
• Ejected occupants are
4 times more likely to
be killed
 All Crashes and Non-Collisions
• Non-collisions = spins, skids, swerves and
emergency braking
• Common causes of injuries:
– Ejection through windows or doors
– Collision with other occupants
– Impact with the vehicle interior
 5 Ways Restraints Prevent Injury:
1. Prevent ejection

2. Contact the strongest parts of the body

3. Spread forces over a wide area of the body

4. Help the body to “ride down” the crash

5. Protect the head and spinal cord

video 1, 2
Types of Occupant Protection
• Passive Protection
– features built into the vehicle
– protects without any action by the occupant
• Active Protection
– features require action by the occupant
Passive Protection:
Automatic Safety Belts
• Door mounted shoulder belt with knee bolster
• Track mounted shoulder belt with manual lap
belt
• Door mounted automatic lap & shoulder

1 2 3
Passive Protection
• Airbags
• Crushable frames
• Reinforced passenger compartment
• Friendly interior
– Padding
– Head restraints
– Laminated windshields
– Recessed knobs
Active Protection

• Lap belts “2-point”

• Lap and shoulder
belts “3-point”
• Child restraint
systems