CASR Research Reports http://hdl.handle.net/2440/38925 2013-05-25T15:34:26Z 2013-05-25T15:34:26Z Searson, Daniel Jeffrey Anderson, Robert William Gerard Ponte, Giulio van den Berg, Andrew Leo http://hdl.handle.net/2440/55596 2010-01-20T08:30:39Z 2008-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Headform impact test performance of vehicles under the GTR on pedestrian safety Author: Searson, Daniel Jeffrey; Anderson, Robert William Gerard; Ponte, Giulio; van den Berg, Andrew Leo Abstract: A Global Technical Regulation (GTR) on pedestrian safety is currently in its final draft stages, and may be adopted in Australia as an Australian Design Rule. Currently, selected new vehicles are tested by the Australasian New Car Assessment Program (ANCAP) for pedestrian protection; the GTR testing procedure is similar, but has different test conditions. The goal of this study was to estimate how many vehicles tested by ANCAP might be expected to pass the headform testing requirements of the GTR based on the vehicles ANCAP performance. Initially, three popular vehicles were tested to the specifications of the GTR. The resulting data was used to validate a theoretical relationship that predicts the change in Head Injury Criterion (HIC) for a given change in headform mass and impact speed. This relationship was used to predict the best-case and worst-case results for 60 vehicles previously tested by ANCAP, 33 of which are current models. The results indicate that a relatively small number of vehicles would be expected to unequivocally pass the GTR requirements, however many more may pass with little to no modifications.

2008-12-31T13:30:00Z Wundersitz, Lisa Narelle Anderson, Robert William Gerard http://hdl.handle.net/2440/51375 2009-10-26T08:30:23Z 2008-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: On-road observational survey of restraint and child restraint use, 2009 Author: Wundersitz, Lisa Narelle; Anderson, Robert William Gerard Abstract: On-road observational surveys of restraint use provide a valuable means of obtaining information on the current level of restraint use and on the characteristics (vehicle, occupant, location) of non-use of restraints. Several observational surveys of restraint use in passenger vehicles have been conducted in South Australia between 1998 and 2002. This report presents the results of a new on-road observational survey undertaken in March 2009 to monitor the levels of restraint use by occupants of passenger vehicles in areas previously surveyed in South Australia: metropolitan Adelaide and five rural regions. Trained field observers recorded the vehicle type, plates displayed on the vehicle, and the seating position, gender and restraint use of vehicle occupants including the uses and types of any child restraints. For the first time in this series of surveys, restraint use was observed on weekends in addition to weekdays. Observed rates of restraint wearing for all vehicle occupants were relatively high, ranging from 98.9% in Murray Bridge (on a weekend) to 96.8% in Clare (on a weekday). Rear seat passengers had the lowest observed rates of restraint wearing. Adult males wore seat belts less often than adult females. Child restraint use varied by region but was relatively high. Findings from this survey might assist in the development of restraint use publicity campaigns and the monitoring of their effectiveness.

2008-12-31T13:30:00Z Wundersitz, Lisa Narelle Hutchinson, Paul http://hdl.handle.net/2440/50537 2009-08-19T09:30:46Z 2007-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Identifying and improving exposure measures Author: Wundersitz, Lisa Narelle; Hutchinson, Paul Abstract: Exposure information, accompanied by comparable crash data, allows the identification of specific high crash risk groups and road environments that can be targeted by appropriate road safety measures. This report aimed to firstly identify the current sources of exposure data available in South Australia and examine their limitations and secondly, make recommendations about the most useful measures of exposure for road safety and how they might best be obtained. Based on a review of the international literature, examination of relevant databases and discussions with organizations collecting exposure data, a list of sources of exposure data available in South Australia was produced, acknowledging any limitations associated with the data. A discussion of the usefulness of exposure measures in road safety, in general terms and specific to South Australia, concluded with comments on four possible strategies for collecting better exposure data in the future: data collection by conventional means, the use of new technology for data collection, better theoretical understanding of induced exposure methods and the collection of compatible exposure data for road crash research. Description: (c) copyright 2008 University of Adelaide

2007-12-31T13:30:00Z Anderson, Robert William Gerard Baldock, Matthew Robert Justin http://hdl.handle.net/2440/50536 2009-08-19T09:30:45Z 2007-12-31T13:30:00Z

Title: Vehicle improvements to reduce the number and severity of rear end crashes Author: Anderson, Robert William Gerard; Baldock, Matthew Robert Justin Abstract: This report reviews vehicle technology developed to reduce the incidence of rear end crashes and the whiplash injuries that may result. Chapters cover: crash avoidance measures, passive safety measures built into improved seat and head restraint designs, assessment procedures that have been developed to assess the efficacy of various seat and head restraint designs in rear impacts, testing and assessment programs that are used to inform consumers of the relative performance of the seats in different models of vehicle and includes up-to-date information on the recently released EuroNCAP proposal to assess whiplash protection measures, the uptake of both seat-based whiplash countermeasures and also brake assistive technologies in Australia, and research on the costs and benefits of vehicle based measures to reduce rear end crashes and whiplash injury. Commentary is given on the opportunities for increasing the awareness of consumers in relation to vehicle based rear-end crash and whiplash countermeasures.

2007-12-31T13:30:00Z