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How rear-facing CRS work
in rear-impact crashes
Julie Mansfield, PhD
Research Engineer
July 30, 2019
Texas Child Passenger Safety Conference
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• Rear-facing orientation is
safest for children
• Studied extensively for
frontal and side impacts
Background
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Background
Frontal impact
Forward-facing Rear-facing
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• What happens when crash forces are
reversed in a rear impact?
– RF child is facing the direction of impact
Background
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Objective 1:
Literature Review
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• Frequency of rear impacts
Literature
Frontal53.5%
Side20.1%
Rear25.4%
Noncollision/Rollovers0.5%
Other/Unknown0.5%
Data from 5,982,000 crashes
(NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, 2014)
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• Injuries in rear impacts: Adults
Literature
18
34.6
4.6
0
10
20
30
40
Frontal Side Rear
Perc
enta
ge (
%)
Occupant Hospitalizations (Adults)
Data from 72,605 adult, front row occupants in 54,080 crashes (excludes rollovers)
(Burnett et al. 2004)
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• Jakobsson et al. 2005: Volvo crash database
– Includes 454 children in rear-facing CRS
Literature: Children
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• Jakobsson et al. 2005: Volvo crash database
– Includes 454 children in rear-facing CRS
Literature: Children
No rear-facing children suffered injuries more than AIS 1
in side or rear impacts!
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• Jakobsson et al. 2005: Volvo crash database
– Includes 454 children in rear-facing CRS
Literature: Children
No rear-facing children suffered injuries more than AIS 1
in side or rear impacts!
“The rearward-facing child seats are designed
primarily for frontal impacts, however the outcome
for side and rear-end impacts indicates a good
performance also in these situations.”
--Jakobsson et al. 2005
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• Langwieder et al. 1999: Institute for Vehicle Safety (IFV) study in
Germany. Small sample size of 42 rear-facing children.
Literature: Children
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• Langwieder et al. 1999: Institute for Vehicle Safety (IFV) study in
Germany. Small sample size of 42 rear-facing children.
Literature: Children
“Hence, rearward facing infant carriers have a
low risk of injury in rear-end collisions.”
--Langwieder et al. 1999
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• Representative and random sample of minor, serious, and
fatal crashes in the US
• Includes about 5,000 crashes per year
• Years 2002-2015:– 39 rear-facing children in rear impact crashes
NASS-CDS
MAIS Number of children
0 – No injury 29
1 – Minor injury 7
2 – Moderate injury 1
3 – Serious 0
4 – Severe 1
5 – Critical 1
6 – Maximum 0
Total 39
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• Representative and random sample of minor, serious, and
fatal crashes in the US
• Includes about 5,000 crashes per year
• Years 2002-2015:– 39 rear-facing children in rear impact crashes
NASS-CDS
MAIS Number of children
0 – No injury 29
1 – Minor injury 7
2 – Moderate injury 1
3 – Serious 0
4 – Severe 1
5 – Critical 1
6 – Maximum 0
Total 39
ΔV 62 kph, severe intrusion
ΔV 30 kph, head injuries
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• Rear impacts appear to be low risk for
children, even those in RF CRS.
• However, sample sizes for children are
small.
Literature: Summary
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Objective 2:
Sled testing
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Sled testing: Methods
Sedan seat Four CRS models
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Target:
ECE R44 corridor (UNECE, 2014)
(European standard)
Actual:
Peak velocity: 18.4 ± 0.1 mph
Peak g’s: 17.5 ± 0.1 g
~80th percentile in terms
of rear impact severity
Sled testing: Methods
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Handle stowed Handle upright Anti-rebound bar
Lowest neck loads
(tension and
compression)
All trials for this CRS:
Low Head Injury Criteria (HIC15) near 32-38 (injury threshold is 389 (Mertz et al. 2016))
Chest acceleration near 31-32 g (injury threshold is 60 g (NHTSA, 2011))
Sled testing
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Handle stowed Handle upright No base
Neck tension similar to
other trials!
Slightly more shear, but
less compression.
Head contacts handle,
HIC15=62
Head contacts head restraint,
HIC15=39
HIC15 injury threshold = 389
(Mertz et al. 2016)
Sled testing
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12-month-old 3-year-old
Higher neck compression, flexion moment, and extension
moment (but still below injury thresholds)
Very similar HIC15 values (16 and 19) with injury thresholds of 389 and 568 (Mertz et al. 2016)
Sled testing
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No tether Swedish style tether
• Notably higher neck tension, shear, and extension
moment (but still below injury thresholds)
• Slightly higher HIC15 and chest resultant
acceleration (much below thresholds)
Sled testing
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• One moderate severity crash pulse
• Small sample size (no repeated tests)
• One vehicle seat model
– Influence of head restraint design?
• All CRS were tightly installed
– Influence of loose installation?
• Biofidelity of pediatric ATDs, especially neck
Sled testing: Limitations
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Objective 3:
Communication with
Caregivers
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“If a child is rear-facing and you get hit
from behind, isn’t that the same as a
forward-facing child in a frontal crash?”
Communication
with caregivers
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“If a child is rear-facing and you get hit
from behind, isn’t that the same as a
forward-facing child in a frontal crash?”
First off—This is a really great question!
Communication
with caregivers
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“If a child is rear-facing and you get hit
from behind, isn’t that the same as a
forward-facing child in a frontal crash?”
First off—This is a really great question!
Communication
with caregivers
No, it’s not the same:
RF CRS interact with the vehicle seat to absorb crash forces.
FF CRS rely primarily on the five-point harness to restrain the occupant.
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Communication
with caregiversForward-facing in frontal impact
Frontal
impact
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Communication
with caregiversForward-facing in frontal impact
Frontal
impact
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Communication
with caregivers
Forward-facing in frontal impact
Frontal
impact
CRS is
stationary
Occupant projects
out of CRS
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Communication
with caregivers
Forward-facing in frontal impact
Frontal
impact
CRS is
stationary
Occupant projects
out of CRS
Torso engages quickly,
head continues forward.
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Communication
with caregivers
Forward-facing in frontal impact
Frontal
impact
CRS is
stationary
Occupant projects
out of CRS
Rear-facing in rear impact
Torso engages quickly,
head continues forward.
Rear
impact
CRS interacts with
vehicle seat.
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Communication
with caregivers
Forward-facing in frontal impact
Frontal
impact
CRS is
stationary
Occupant projects
out of CRS
Rear-facing in rear impact
Torso engages quickly,
head continues forward.
Torso engages slowly,
head stays aligned.
Rear
impact
CRS interacts with
vehicle seat.
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• Rear-facing CRS have features to mitigate forces in rear
impacts
– This crash mode is different than a forward-facing CRS in a frontal
impact.
• These data are insufficient to conclude whether RF or FF is
safer in a rear impact scenario.
• Ultimately, these conclusions align with best practice
recommendations to keep children rear-facing.
• More results in publication: SAE International 2018
– Mansfield J, Kang Y-S, Bolte J, “Rear-Facing Child Restraint
Systems in Rear Impact Sled Tests.” 2018. SAE Technical Paper
2018-01-1325.
Conclusions:
Rear impacts
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The authors would like to acknowledge the National Science Foundation
(NSF) Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies at the Children’s Hospital
of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Ohio State University (OSU) for
sponsoring this study and its Industry Advisory Board (IAB) members for
their support, valuable input and advice. The views presented are those of
the authors and not necessarily the views of CHOP, OSU, the NSF, or the
IAB members.
Thank you to the industry mentors from CChIPS, especially: HyunJung
Kwon, Jason Jenkins, Duey Thomas, Eric Dahle, Steve Krantz, Richard
Orr, Travis Miller, Craig Marcusic
Acknowledgments
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Acknowledgments
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Contact me: Julie Mansfield
Injury Biomechanics Research Center:
www.ibrc.osu.edu
Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies (CChIPS):
www.cchips.research/chop.edu
Buckle Up with Brutus (Caregiver-oriented):
www.buckleup.osu.edu
Thank you!
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How rear-facing CRS work
in rear-impact crashes
Julie Mansfield, PhD
Research Engineer
July 30, 2019
Texas Child Passenger Safety Conference
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References
Burnett R, Carter J, Roberts V, Myers B. The influence of seatback characteristics on cervical injury risk in severe rear impacts. Accident Analysis and Prevention. 2004; 36:591-601.
Henary B, Sherwood CP, Crandall JR, Kent RW, Vaca FE, Arbogast KB, Bull MJ. Car safety seats for children: rear facing for best protection. Inj Prev. 2007; 13:398-402.
Jakobsson L, Isaksson-Hellman I, Lundell B. Safety for the growing child: experiences from Swedish accident data. Paper No 05-0330. Proceedings of the 19th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles, 2005.
Langwieder K, Hummel T, Finkbeiner F. Injury risks of children in cars depending on the type of restraint. Child Occupant Protection in Motor Vehicle Crashes. London: Professional Engineering Pub. 1999.
Mertz HJ, Irwin AL, Prasad P. Biomechanical and scaling basis for frontal and side impact injury assessment reference values. Stapp Car Crash Journal. 2016; 60:625-657.
NHTSA. Traffic Safety Facts 2014: A compliation of motor vehicle crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the General Estimates System. Washington, DC.Report No. DOT HS 812 261. 2016. Washington, DC.
NHTSA. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 213. Child Restraint Systems. 49 CFR 571.213.Washington, DC: Federal Register; 2011:915-957.
Prasad P, Kim A, Weerappuli DPV, Roberts V, Schneider D. Relationships between passenger car seat back strength and occupant injury severity in rear end collisions: Field and laboratory studies. Society of Automotive Engineers. 1997. Paper No. 973343.
UNECE. Regulation No. 44, Addendum 43, Revision 3. Uniform provisions concerning the approval of restraining devices for child occupants of power-driven vehicles (“Child Restraint Systems”). 27 February 2014.