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 front-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 these are common amongst fatalities. The contact sources within the car are described. Intruding structures and high crash severities are typically associated with high rates of the more severe injuries from steering 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 those sustaining injuries from glazing materials. Test procedures to reduce injuries from pillar contacts should take account of the dynamic effects of an intruding pillar. Contacts with objects outside the car caused higher rates of severe fractures and brain injury; however, the total numbers are greater from interior contacts.