IN LARGE SAMPLES, DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF DEATH RATE OR INJURY PATTERNS BETWEEN DRIVERS AND FRONT PASSENGERS ARE NOT ENTIRELY DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. NUMEROUS BIASES SUCH AS DIFFERENCES IN FRONTAL VIOLENCE, ASYMMETRICAL INTRUSION, AGE EFFECT OR REAR OVER-LOADING MUST BE ELIMINATED FIRST BEFORE A RISK COMPARISON BETWEEN BELTED FRONT OCCUPANTS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL CAR ACCIDENTS. THE POSSIBLE OVER-RISK FOR THE DRIVER DUE TO THE STEERING SYSTEM CAN BE STRESSED IF THE DRIVER'S SITUATION IS COMPARED WITH THAT OF HIS FRONT PASSENGER WITHOUT SIDE EFFECTS. THIS COMPARISON IS MADE ON A SAMPLE OF 337 CARS INVOLVED IN FRONTAL COLLISION. NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IS OBSERVED BETWEEN THE PROPORTION OF SEVERE INJURIES AMONG DRIVERS AND THEIR FRONT PASSENGER, BUT ON ONE HAND, THORACIC INJURIES ARE MORE FREQUENT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER AND ON THE OTHER HAND, SEVERE INJURIES TO THE HEAD ARE MORE FREQUENT FOR DRIVERS. IT CANNOT BE ASSUMED THAT THE STEERING SYSTEM GENERATES A MANIFEST OVER-RISK FOR DRIVERS.(A) FOR THE COVERING ABSTRACT OF THE CONFERENCE SEE IRRD 802816.
Samenvatting