Recent research involving mini-size cars impacting sideways intobreakaway luminaire supports is described. The study determined thetypes and causes of occupant injuries that occur during these impacts. It also developed preliminary test evaluation criteria linking injury potential to vehicle rather than to dummy results. The vehicletest was employed to simplify the test and reduce costs. The side impact problem is discussed, the test program is described, the results are presented, and coparisons (thoracic injury; head injury) aremade. Accidents similar to many of the tests in this series result in near-certain severe or fatal injury. To remedy the situation of non-qualifying roadside hardware, intrusion could be classified into 2 types: protrusion or puncture of a test article into the occupant space; and controlled occupant compartment deformation.
Samenvatting