The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is conducting research at the Vehicle Research and Test Center for the reduction of pedestrian injury. Initial research in pedestrian thoracic injuries address translational side impact in child pedestrians. This paper reviews the development and current status of the child pedestrian program. A brief overview of the development of the child thoracic surrogate devices is given while tentative threshold injury criteria values developed from accident reconstruction work using these devices are presented. Results of a baseline testing program of a selection of passenger vehicles, light trucks, and mini-vans is presented in terms of relative potential injury. Additional testing show impact velocity effects on injury potential and indicates impact velocity ranges in which realistic benefits should be explored. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.
Abstract