Samenvatting
Trauma, with particular emphasis on blunt impact and acceleration injury in the automotive environment, is compared to major diseases, with regard to its characteristics and effects on individuals and society. The causes of motor vehicle crashes are reviewed and evidence is presented that the vehicle is a minor factor in accidents. Injury causation is discussed in engineering terms, and several approaches are presented for setting criteria to establish injury thresholds and to evaluate the effectiveness of injury preventive systems.