Publication Details

An analysis of the risk of occupant injury in second collisions

Type: article

Author(s): Ray, Malcolm H.; Michie, Jarvis D.; Hunter, William W.; Stutts, Jane C.

Pages: 17-22

Url: https://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1987/1133/1133-003.pdf

Publication Date: 1987

Journal: Transportation Research Record

Volume: 1133

Abstract: One of the most potentially injurious phases of a redirectional collision with a longitudinal barrier often occurs during the vehicle's post-impact trajectory. Though a longitudinal barrier system may be well designed and crash test experience shown to be good, data presented in this paper suggest that occupants often surfer severe injury in a second collision after their vehicle has been successfully redirected from a longitudinal barrier. In this paper current NCHRP Report 230 guidelines for the postimpact trajectory of test vehicles are briefly discussed, data from two states-North Carolina and New Yorkare examined to determine increased risk associated with second collisions, and the risk of suffering fatal or severe injury in various types of redirectional collisions ls quantified. The postimpact trajectory will be shown to be an important feature of redirectional collisions, and the increased risk to occupants associated with secondary collisions will be demonstrated.