This paper evaluates the risk of side crash injury for far side occupants in Australia and the United States. The study was based on the analysis of Australian data drawn from the Monash University Accident Research Center (MUARC) In-depth Data System (MIDS) and U.S. data extracted from the National Automotive Sampling System/Crashworthiness Data System (NASS/CDS). Over 100 cases of Australian far side struck occupants were examined from the MIDS database, and over 4500 cases of U.S. far side struck occupants were investigated from NASS/CDS 1993 - 2002. For both data sets, the analysis was restricted to three-point belted occupants of cars, light trucks, and vans. The paper evaluates the risk of far side impact injury as a function of struck body type, collision partner, delta-V, crash direction (PDOF), occupant compartment intrusion, and injury contact source. Injury risk is evaluated using the maximum injury severity for each occupant, by injury severity for each body region, and by Harm, a social cost measure. The goal of this study was to develop priorities for developing far side impact injury countermeasures which would be effective in both countries.
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