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Frontal, lateral and rear-end collisions with dummy occupied wheel chairs on a deceleration sled were conducted in two test series at a collision velocity of 30 km/h, and a sled deceleration of 8 and 12 g. In the first dummy test series conventional restraint systems were used; in the second test series improved restraint systems were employed. In a further series, four cadaver tests were conducted. For all tests and collision directions the HIC values, as well as the resultant acceleration at the center of gravity lay below the admissible values of Federal Motor Safety Standard 208. Despite the low thorax accelerations numerous rib fractures occurred in the cadaver tests. In two cadaver tests, injury degrees of AIS 5 were observed (multiple liver ruptures, vertebral column injuries).

Our tests with fresh human cadavers were continued (cf. proceedings, 18th Stapp Car Crash Conference). Presented herewith are the results of 103 tests evaluated so far. While the severity of injuries showed an increase with advancing age, it is not obviously dependent upon weight or sex. Under the conditions chosen by us, the 12 to 30-year age group reached the thorax tolerance level at an impact velocity of still below 50 km/h with a stopping distance of 40 cm, the 30 to 50-year age group of below 40 km/h, and the age group beyond 50 years below 30 km/h. A comparison of our results with volunteer tests (Ewing et al., 29) and with evaluated real accidents (Patrick et al., 22) as well as with similar cadaver tests (Tarriere et al., 19) is made. When introducing safety testing regulations for vehicles in the light of dummy tests, the broad spectrum of the respective age groups has to be considered. The thorax injuries may be slightly mitigated due to a lessening of the surface pressure.

By an acceleration track operated through a falling weight (9, 11*) with a crash velocity of 50 km/h and a stopping distance of about 40 cm-corresponding to the crease region of many automobiles-the effect of three-point-retractor belts on 30 fresh cadavers and of two-point belts with kneebar on 19 fresh cadavers had been tested. The age of the cadavers ranged from 12-82 years. Qualitatively, almost all injuries known under the term “seat belt syndrome” could be reproduced. The dependence of the degree of injury in regard to the age was quite evident. It can be expected that persons over 40 years of age will suffer the same dangerous injuries as the tested cadavers, caused by the diagonal belts if the above mentioned crash conditions are existent. This will apply to both belt systems tested by us. The shoulder-belt-forces of all of our tests were between 340 kp and 1000 kp, but more serious injuries of the cadavers of older persons could be observed.