THE NATURE AND SOURCE OF THE HEAD-INJURIES SUSTAINED BY RESTRAINED FRONT-SEAT CAR OCCUPANTS IN FRONTAL COLLISIONS

The paper examines the types of head injury sustained by restrained fr ont-seat car occupants in frontal collisions. Injuries are classified into soft tissue, diffuse and focal brain injuries and facial bone or skull fractures. Survivors seldom sustain focal injuries although thes e are common amongst fatalities. The contact sources within the car ar e described. Intruding structures and high crash severities are typica lly associated with high rates of the more severe injuries from steeri ng wheel contact, although some are sustained with intrusion below 11 cm. Low-speed impact testing on nondeployed airbag-equipped wheels is suggested. Toughened glass windscreens are overrepresented amongst tho se sustaining injuries from glazing materials. Test procedures to redu ce injuries from pillar contacts should take account of the dynamic ef fects of an intruding pillar. Contacts with objects outside the car ca used higher rates of severe fractures and brain injury; however, the t otal numbers are greater from interior contacts.