Current accident analysis shows that the head of the pedestrian impacts most frequently into or around the windscreen since cars in recent have a short hood. Therefore, the injury risks to the head in contact with various locations of the car including the windscreen and its frame were examined on the basis of headform impact tests. The HIC (head injury criteria) is high from contact with the cowl, lower windscreen frame or A pillar, and it is low with increasing distance from these structural elements. In the windscreen centre, the HIC is less than 500. The headform impact test results were compared between earlier and current car models. The HICs in the bonnet top area are similar in either type car except for the car built especially for pedestrian safety. However, on the A pillar, the HICs are much greater for current cars. From child headform impact tests for the WAD (wrap around distance) of 1000 mm, the HIC of SUV (sports utility vehicle) is higher than cars, and the SUV with steel bull bar leads to high injury risk.
Abstract