Abstract
In a previous National Highways Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research program, the Door Effective Padding Thickness (DEPTH) was found to be highly correlated with side impact occupant protection. Using an expanded set of twenty-eight production car side impact tests and a series of modified vehicles side impact tests, this paper re-examines the question of how vehicle design influences side impact thoracic injury. The findings of this extended study confirm the conclusion of earlier paper: of the design variables investigated, DEPTH is the single design variable most strongly correlated with thoracic side impact injury potential. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.