Occupant protection in offset and strongly angled frontal impacts represents a crash mode in which a significant number of severe and fatal injuries occur each year in the United States. To date, no United States auto manufacturers have acknowledged dealing with or addressing the problem. This discussion paper provides a literature review, describing the recognition by researchers for more than 20 years that this impact configuration represents a significant and foreseeable accident situation. A brief overview of the frequency of occurrence is provided. This is followed by an example of case studies, and a description of the countermeasure analysis for a selected case. Countermeasures which would improve improve the safety of occupants in offset frontal impacts are as follows: (1) Restraints can be designed to offset structural deficiencies in offset and strongly angled impacts; (2) The interior configuration of the passenger compartment can be adjusted to better deal with intrusion; (3) Passive interior padding can mitigate the severity of head, neck and thoracic injuries; and (4) low weight modifications of existing engine and passenger compartment structures can resist or limit intrusion.
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