The paper describes recent progress in the UK towards developing a multi-level system of accident investigation specifically related to vehicle secondary safety. The application of the national police statistics to determine priorities, the extension of local in-depth investigations for furthering the understanding of injury mechanism, and proposals for an intermediate level system for monitoring changes in vehicle safety features on a sample basis are outlined. The co-ordination of activities between 3 teams involved in studying injury causation and alleviation (at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Birmingham Accident Research Unit, and Oxford Road Accident Group) is an important part of the work. A procedure is being developed for harmonising accident investigation techniques - for the study of biomechanics of injury for car occupants in particular - while enabling the teams to retain their own specific objectives and local interests. The current three year programme (1978-1981) of research studies is summarised. (Author/publisher)
Abstract