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Forensic evidence within a crash vehicle's occupant compartment as well as the occupant injuries may provide important validation tools for the accident reconstructionist, particularly to corroborate the principal direction of force (PDOF) on the occupant. The objective of this study was to evaluate forensic evidence of dynamic loading found on the seat belt webbing, latch plate, D-ring, and any other associated restraint components as a function of frontal impact angle in a series of sled tests utilizing 95th percentile male, 5th percentile female, and 6 year old Hybrid III ATDs. A late 1990s full size SUV was converted to a sled buck for testing. The test series included impact angles from 0 degrees to 60 degrees in 15 degree increments. The tests were conducted at approximately 35 kph (22 mph) on a rebound style sled. Post-impact, the seat belt systems were removed from the sled, labeled and archived for subsequent detailed analysis.

The purpose of this paper is to assist the investigator examining motor vehicle crashes involving child restraint devices (CRD). During a crash, if the CRD has been installed properly, it should provide protection to the child occupant. When it does not, the crash investigator must examine the CRD, belts and vehicle for the reason protection was not provided. A crash investigator should be able to determine use, non-use, or improper use of the CRD. Case studies presented will help an investigator determine items such as use or nonuse, improper use, CRD positioning, and belt routing. Forensic evidence examined on the CRD and the vehicle belts are presented from case investigations, sled tests, and crash tests.

Oblique crashes to the vehicle front corner may not be characteristic of either frontal or side impacts. This research evaluated occupant response in oblique crashes for a driver, rear adult passenger, and a rear child passenger. Occupant responses and injury potential were evaluated for seating positions as either a far-or near-side occupant. Two crash tests were conducted with a subcompact car. The vehicle’s longitudinal axis was oriented 45 degrees to the direction of travel on a moving platform and pulled into a wall at 56 km/h. Dummies utilized for the seating positions were an adult dummy (50th-percentile-HIII and THOR-Alpha) for the front-left (driver) position, 5th-percentile-female-HIII for the right-rear position, and a 3-year-old HIII for the left-rear position.