title: Protective effect of rear-seat restraints during car collisions.
abstract: The nature of injuries to 2684 car occupants involved in 1055 car accidents were analysed. Less than 1% front-seat occupants were children, compared with 25% of rear-seat passengers. Nearly all (97%) rear-seat passengers were unrestrained. Type of impact was generally similar for front-seat as for back-seat occupants, except for rollover impacts, which were commoner among rear-seat passengers. Injury severity distribution was similar for front-seat as for rear-seat occupants. Except for minor-to-moderate neck injuries, which were the result of deceleration, most injuries to rear-seat passengers were due to contact with the front seat, with glazing materials, or with other parts of the car. The use of car restraints by rear-seat passengers should reduce the incidence and severity of injuries.
authors.affiliation: Accident and Emergency Department, Leicester Royal Infirmary.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Bodiwala
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Otubushin
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012622:Seat Belts; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*