Observations of seating position of front seat occupants relative to the side of the vehicle.
This study was an on-road observational study of the seating position and limb position of front seat occupants relevant to the side of the car for a representative sample of occupants during straight road driving and turning manoeuvres. A video camera captured over 650 front-on images of passenger car occupants in Metropolitan Melbourne. Results showed a significant numbers of occupants were seated out-of-position while travelling on the road and that a number of these were seated in a manner that may possibly result in injury from the deployment of a side airbag. This was particularly so while turning, a situation common in many side impacts. A substantial number of front seat occupants' arms were exposed to severe injury in the event of a side impact crash. These findings highlight a number of aspects of seating behaviour of driver and front passengers that need to be taken into account when designing side impact airbags.
D000328:Adult; D017278:Air Bags; D000886:Anthropometry; D001315:Australia; D001334:Automobile Driving; D001336:Automobiles; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011187:Posture