This paper presents an analysis of the overall change in injury patterns and injury costs associated with proposed leg protection devices for motorcycle riders. The analysis was based on 3 motorcycle types (medium conventional; large sport; scooter), each fitted with different designs of UK Draft Specification leg protectors. The approach involved selecting an analytical model which is able to describe the crucial phenomena, including: rider, motorcycle and car three dimensional motions; and occurrence of rider leg and head injuries. The selected methods involved application of previous research including: Articulated Total Body (ATB) computer simulation of rider, motorcycle and car; uses of 163 impact configurations known to occur, based on Hannover and Los Angeles accident data; and a biomechanics and bioeconomics based injury cost model, which provided a common basis for injury comparison. The results of 987 computer simulations show the distribution of the change in predicted injuries, and injury costs, due to addition of leg protectors, across the accident population, for 3 motorcycle/leg protector designs. Results of the analyses are compared to previously published data from 16 full scale crash tests.
Abstract