Annals of advances in automotive medicine / Annual Scientific Conference ... Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine. Scientific Conference
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Ann Adv Automot Med · Oct 2008
The potential for automatic crash notification systems to reduce road fatalities.
This predictive study investigated the effectiveness of Automatic Crash Notification (ACN) systems in reducing road fatalities, due to enabling faster emergency medical services (EMS) notification times, and therefore, the earlier provision of treatment. The cost-effectiveness associated with fleet installation of ACN systems in Australia was also evaluated. A range of data sources were used to identify the range of road fatalities that ACN systems could potentially mitigate, with urban and rural crashes analyzed separately, due to the average EMS notification time being slower for rural areas. ⋯ This corresponds to almost 11% of all passenger vehicle occupant fatalities. Despite the potential for ACN to significantly influence the Australian road toll, the benefit-cost-ratio analysis indicated that without government support, the systems are unlikely to be a cost-effective option for mandatory installation in all registered passenger vehicles. It was also recommended, however, that the benefits of ACN systems should be further investigated, in order to better establish their potential to increase road safety.
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Current standard frontal crash tests include full frontal or 40% offset. Frontal impacts with offsets less than 40% and corner impacts have received little attention. Because of the limited engagement of vehicle structures that would permit less energy dissipation, these crashes have the potential for severe trauma to the near-side occupant. ⋯ For the 71 CIREN cases, lower extremity injuries dominated. The injury severity score did not correlate well with assumed severity parameters like extent of crush and delta-V, however, crashes with extent zones 2-5 had a greater percentage of occupants with chest and spine injuries than crashes with extent zones 6-9. Vehicle rotation after front impact in extent zone 2-5 crashes may be influential in airbag effectiveness.