Benefits of Australian Design Rule 69 (full frontal crash protection) and airbags in frontal crashes in Australia.
In-depth data at MUARC was used to evaluate the Australian Design Rule 69 (ADR69) - Full frontal dynamic crash requirement, as well as the effectiveness of frontal airbag deployment on injury risk and associated cost of injury. ADR69 was introduced in Australia in mid-1995 and was based largely on the US equivalent FMVSS-208. The results indicate reductions in excess of 90% in the likelihood of sustaining AIS 2+ injuries in body regions where frontal airbags would be expected to benefit. The average injury cost savings for drivers of post-ADR69 manufactured vehicles was found to be up to AUD19,000 dollars depending on body region considered. Limitations and implications of these findings are discussed.
Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Michael
M
Fitzharris
Brian
B
Fildes
Stuart
S
Newstead
David
D
Logan
D015998:Abbreviated Injury Scale; D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017278:Air Bags / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001315:Australia; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019838:Neck Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*