Effectiveness of airbag restraints in frontal crashes : what European field studies tell us.

Author(s)
Frampton, R. Sferco, R. Welsh, R. Kirk, A. & Fay, P.
Year
Abstract

UK and German field accident data show that European airbag systems provide a 32% and 55% reduction in Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2+ injury to the cranium and face when belted drivers sustain Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 2+ injury in frontal crashes. The greatest benefits of airbags were seen in crashes exceeding 30 km/h delta V (velocity change). Airbags do not appear to affect a reduction in chest injuries and they exert a neutral influence on the incidence of cervical spine strain. Drivers in airbag vehicles sustained proportionately more AIS 2+ upper limb injuries than those in vehicles without airbags. That difference was largely the result of a higher proportion of clavicle fractures. Overall, deployment thresholds correlate well to the onset of moderate/serious head injury but there appear to be some unnecessary deployments at low crash severities. (A)

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Publication

Library number
C 19098 (In: C 19067) /91 /84 / ITRD E206453
Source

In: Proceedings of the 2000 International IRCOBI Conference on the Biomechanics of Impacts, Montpellier, France, September 20-22, 2000, p. 425-438, 12 ref.

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