Current European Standards for Child Restraint Systems (CRS) do not include performance requirements for side impacts. However, field accident data have established that side impacts are responsible for nearly 30 percent of car occupant fatalities and occur with a frequency ranked second to front and front corner impacts. This paper presents the results of side impact tests on a sample of current CRS containing TNO dummies to a deceleration pulse generally in accordance with that specified in the New Zealand Standard NZS 5411: 1982. These test results, which are complemented by a review of field studies of CRS involved in side impact accidents, show that most common systems should be effective in protecting 1 to 4 year old children in side or sideswipe impacts provided they are not sitting on the struck side. (A) For the covering abstract of the conference, see IRRD 837684.
Samenvatting