Abstract
This paper is a review of some recent experimental studies dealing with side impact injury mechanisms human tolerances and protection criteria in side impact. It is focused on researches made for eec biomechanical research programme but includes analysis of other european and american results. For the most involved body area in side impact accidents, an analysis of recent available experimental research data is made. This analysis discusses the test methodology, the results obtained and the possibility to use them in a standard protection side impact test. The paper concludes with proposals for completing the present knowledge in human tolerances and protection criteria in side impact. (a)