Evaluation of Side Impact Protection. FMVSS 214 TTI(d) Improvements and Side Air Bags

摘要

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 214, Side Impact Protection was amended to assure occupant protection in a 33.5 mph crash test and phased-in to new passenger cars during model years 1994-1997. A Thoracic Trauma Index, TTI(d) is measured on Side Impact Dummies seated adjacent to the impact point. Manufacturers upgraded side structures and affixed padding in cars to improve TTI(d). Later, they installed two types of side air bags, torso bags and head air bags for additional occupant protection in cars and LTVs. Statistical analyses of 1993-2005 crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and the General Estimates System (GES) estimate fatality reductions for these technologies. Average TTI(d) improved in 2-door cars from 114 in 1981-1985 to 44 in 214-certified cars with side air bags, and in 4-door cars from 85 to 48. TTI(d) improvements without side air bags reduced fatality risk for nearside occupants in multivehicle crashes by an estimated 33 percent in 2-door cars and 17 percent in 4-door cars. Torso plus head air bags reduce fatality risk for nearside occupants by an estimated 24 percent; torso bags alone, by 12 percent. TTI(d) improvements, torso bags and head-curtain air bags could have saved an estimated 2,934 lives in calendar year 2003 if every car and LTV on the road had been equipped with them.