Crashworthy systems: a paradigm shift in road safety design

The technology to design crashworthy vehicles has advanced considerably over the past decade. Substantial “Real World” data is being collected by both research institutions and car manufacturers for feedback to improve occupant protection. This data details vehicle deformation, site accident information and injuries sustained by occupants. Likewise complex vehicle crash tests with surrogate anthropomorphic dummies are now carried out daily. Dummy technology and the development of human injury tolerance curves are well advanced with respect to identifying life threatening head and chest injuries in a crash test. Similarly computer simulations of vehicle crashes and injuries sustained by occupants are well developed. Designers are now able to investigate different crash scenarios in detail in order to mitigate injuries in prototype vehicles well in advance of any crash testing. Impact loads and occupant kinematics can be readily obtained for design purposes. In addition to this, accident reconstruction software has advanced to the point that it is now becoming an essential tool for litigation and Coronial enquiries. Vehicle kinematics and speeds leading up to the crash event can be established using such software.