Engineering in accidents: vehicle design and injuries

This review has touched superficially on the various mechanisms of injuries to the main classes of road-user casualties, and illustrated some of the desirable vehicle design characteristics which can minimize road trauma. There is still much to be gained by better vehicle design. For occupants, enhanced performance from restraint systems, supplementary airbags, better structural integrity and better compatibility between cars and lorries are obvious areas where known solutions are waiting to be applied. For pedestrians there is an extensive literature outlining the characteristics of friendly vehicle exteriors; many current models of cars are exhibiting some of these properties but better agreement on an optimum specification for the car's exterior is still required. For motorcyclists there is the promise of improved leg protection from energy-absorbing fairings although substantial technical debate still surrounds these proposals. For the clinician, a more accurate appreciation of the likely injuries which occur in given collision circumstances can help in diagnosis and treatment. It is for these reasons that some understanding of vehicle design and crash-worthiness is worthwhile.