In this study, 293 accidents of car to pedestrian collisions were analysed by a research team at the German Medical University Hannover (ARU/MUH), documented on scene with a statistical random procedure. The collision speed was determined in each case via braking marks and other traces by mathematical calculation. For a harmonised analysis pedestrian collisions with adults taller than 150 cm, braked vehicle front shape (without boxed shaped cars) and impacts to the road surface were selected, while the collision speed of the car should be between 20 and 70 km/h at the time of the collision. An objective of the study is to determine the severity and frequency of secondary impact from the above-mentioned accidents. In the study secondary impact is distinguished from primary impact. The study shows that 933 injuries could be explained as caused by vehicle impact, so called primary impact, and 463 injuries were related to road impacts, so called secondary impact. The results of the study show, among other things, that: the secondary impact plays an important role in car collisions with pedestrians, but that in general the injuries due to secondary impacts are less frequent and less severe than injuries caused by primary impacts. Different technical suggestions for injury reduction, to decrease the load on the relevant body regions of the impacted pedestrians onto the road surface are presented.
Abstract