In 1983, the Accident Research Unit at the Institute for Consumer Ergonomics began a major study to investigate the causes of injury to occupants in car accidents. This was sponsored by the United Kingdom Department of Transport and three motor companies. This study has been under way for nearly ten years and the database of information is one of the most comprehensive of its kind in the world. This information plays a key role in establishing the priorities for safety research in the U.K., based on real life accident data. This paper is concerned with the practical aspects of the collection and analysis of real life accident data. Issues include: (1) the establishment and maintenance of collaboration with police forces, hospital consultants and coroners; (2) recruitment and training of staff; (3) accident sampling; (4) data quality control; and (5) large-scale project management. A case is also made for the need to establish a co-ordinated European database of accident information to facilitate the development of appropriate safety requirements, and to set priorities for safety research in Europe.
Abstract