Biomechanics research aims to increase understanding of the human body in order to improve tools to assess the risk of injury. Passive safety research seeks to exhibit consistent themes across the needs of each road user type, with versatile and robust tests designed to provide optimum protection for the full crash population. This report offers an independent expert overview and guidance on the research areas that have the greatest potential to reduce injuries and is targeted at research funding bodies and the research community. In each section the most appropriate and relevant pieces of research are evaluated, followed by conclusions, including areas for further knowledge and references. The first part looks at each body region, identifying how improvements can be made and taking into account characterisation, definition and allowances for the response, mechanisms, limits, variability and reactive properties of the human body. The second part addresses research issues for each road user type, looking at the variability in terms of the people involved, the characteristics of the vehicles and the crash configuration, with an emphasis on avoiding a one-size-fits-all approach. The research needed to improve the basic tools used for biomechanics and passive safety research is also identified.
Abstract