[Biomechanical aspects of collisions in street traffic]

Injuries are still severe on average at Delta-v-values as low as 50 km/h with belted occupants and as low as 30 km/h with struck pedestrians. Therefore, all technical developments improving safety should not blind us to the fact that lowering vehicle speed remains the first priority in injury prevention. Small light weight cars of low energy consumption (e.g. electromobiles) constitute a major occupant safety problem unless advanced safety engineering will be applied. The extensive improvements over the last decades, both in active and passive safety, including newly developed steering systems, anti-blocking brake systems, seat belts, head restraints, etc. however have masked drivers sense and peception of danger. In research and development of sophisticated electronic warning and controlling systems, designed to help in driving, possible secondary effects of risk homoeostasis or compensation of risk reduction have to be taken into account at an early stage. Psychological and ergonomical knowledge has to complement the purely technical and biomechanical approach.