Summary

Although the number of 4WDs, utilities (not passenger car derivatives) and forward control vans in Australia is increasing, very little is known about the occupant protection they offer in real world crashes. Furthermore, these vehicles are not subject to the full range of design rules applicable to passenger cars and their derivatives.

Summary

Rural road safety is a major issue in Australia. In recent years, gains in road safety in rural areas have not matched those made in urban areas (Monograph 2, Trends in Fatal Crashes on Rural Roads). Furthermore, research has shown that country drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as city drivers (Monograph 5, Driving in Unfamiliar Surroundings Part 3: City Driving/Country Driving).

Summary

Survey Methodology and Aim

This document reports the findings from a national survey of 1,286 people aged 15 years and over, conducted in May/early June 1996. The survey is Wave 9 in a series of similar national studies conducted since October 1986 for the ATSB Road Safety, designed to monitor key community attitudes toward road safety issues. The previous survey in the series was Wave 8, conducted 12 months earlier.

Summary

Australian vehicles are currently required to meet Australian Design Rule ADR 69 which specifies head, chest and femur dummy criteria in a dynamic full frontal crash test at 48km/h. This is based on the US regulation FMVSS 208 with the added allowance for the test dummies to be restrained by seat belts.

Summary

A series of physical models of the human head and neck were constructed to study, the biomechanics of the cervical spinal cord during a simulated rollover clash. These models were dynamically loaded in axial compression and the spatial and temporal patterns of strain in the spinal cord were calculated. The largest strains were seen in the regions near subluxations from simulated ligament disruptions.