This study uses the National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS) for 1988-1998 to determine distributions of Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 3+ injuries among occupants exposed to far-side crashes and the sources of the injuries. The William Lehman Injury Research centre (WLIRC) data from 1994-1998 is used to assess injury mechanisms among seriously injured crash exposed far-side occupants. The NASS/CDS indicated that injury patterns for far-side restrained drivers were different from far-side restrained front passengers. For the driver, the head accounted for 40% of the AIS 3+ injuries in far-side collisions and the chest/abdomen accounted for 45.5%. For the right front passengers, head injuries contributed 27.2%, while chest and abdominal injuries accounted for 64.5%. The opposite side interior was the most frequent contact associated with driver AIS 3+ injuries (30.5%). The second most harmful injury source is the seat belt (22.6%). Five of 13 belted far-side occupants in the WLIRC data had Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) 3+ injuries from belt contacts. The liver or the spleen was the most seriously injured body organ in all five cases. The presence of an occupant on the near-side changed the injury pattern of the far-side occupant, mitigating injuries from contacts with the opposite side interior of the vehicle.
Samenvatting