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The results of 319 cases of belt-restrained front seat car occupants (234 drivers and 85 passengers) from 241 vehicles in car-to-car head-on collisions were examined. Ninety-five occupants were uninjured, 195 sustained a total injury severity of Maximum Abbreviated Injury Score (MAIS) 1-3 and 29, MAIS 4-6. There were 27 fatalities, and the main causes of death were polytrauma and hemorrhage. The main factors influencing occupant injury severity were: the energy equivalent speed (EES); the change of velocity (delta upsilon); the maximum deformation depth; and the collision angle. With an EES > 50 km/h fatal injuries can be expected, and above 60 km/h no occupant remained uninjured. The results of a multivariate analysis were: EES influenced the injury severity at all body locations except the spinal cord; occupant position effected only head injury severity, with drivers being more severely injured; occupant age influenced the injury severity at the thorax, abdomen, and extremities and MAIS as well. Age was a further factor influencing injury severity, e.g. with an EES of 50 km/h the probability of being fatally injured was 30%-45% higher for occupants over 59 years than those under 20.

Seventy-nine belt-protected front seat occupants sustained authentic car-to-car side collisions with impact at front door or B-pillar in which energy equivalent speed (EES) and delta V had a highly significant influence on the occurrence of liver and spleen ruptures. From an EES greater than or equal to 40 km/h the risk of suffering liver and spleen injuries proved to be much higher for occupants on the impact side. Drivers on the impact side often had combined liver and spleen ruptures, front seat passengers had only liver ruptures and combined liver and spleen ruptures. The number of rib fractures on the left or right had a highly significant influence on the occurrence of liver and spleen ruptures. Liver ruptures and combined liver and spleen ruptures were often combined with pelvic ruptures. Language: en

Authentic car-to-car side collisions (n = 30) with the main impact area at the B-pillar were analyzed to find technical parameters corresponding with the injury severities of the front seat, belt-protected car passengers on the impact side. EES (Energy Equivalent Speed) and delta v (delta v, change in velocity) were highly significant predictors of the severity of thoracic and abdominal injuries and total injury severity coded according to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS). At an EES or delta v greater than or equal to 40 km/h all front-seat car passengers on the impact side sustained a total injury severity of Maximum AIS (MAIS) greater than or equal to 4 and died. Although a passenger could survive the crash without injury to one or more body regions up to the highest EES- and delta v-values, at EES or delta v greater than or equal to 40 km/h fatal injuries were sustained in at least one body region. At an EES greater than or equal to 35 km/h or a delta v greater than or equal to 15 km/h no front-seat car passenger on the impact side remained uninjured.