title: Improvements in passive car safety led to decreased injury severity--a comparison between the 1970s and 1990s.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to characterize changes in the mechanism and pattern of injury for vehicular trauma victims with modern vehicle design. Crash and injury severity were specifically investigated to isolate the influence of these improvements in vehicle design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1972, a local, prospective, assessment of vehicular trauma victims on-scene and at medical institutions providing care has been performed including the following parameters: delta-v, collision speed, type of road using, abbreviated injury scale (AIS), injury severity score (ISS), incidence of polytrauma or death. Victims (for restrained car occupants, bicyclists, pedestrians) injured between 1973 and 1978, and between 1994 and 1999 were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower crash severity (delta-v, collision speed) and injury severity (AIS, ISS, incidence of polytrauma or death) were measured for restrained car occupants, bicyclists and pedestrians during the later period. The correlation coefficient between delta-v or vehicle collision speed and ISS was higher in the earlier period for car occupants, cyclists and pedestrians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the observed reduction in injury severity in restrained car occupants, bicyclists and pedestrians is not only linked to the reduction of crash severity, but also related to improvements in vehicle design beyond seat-belt use. Passive car safety led to decreased injury severity--a comparison.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, Hannover 30625, Germany. Richter.Martinus@MH-Hannover.de
authors.forename: Martinus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Hans-Christoph
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Pape
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Otte
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Krettek
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001336:Automobiles / Q000592:standards*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*