Euro NCAP 28 june 2005 Whiplash injury epidemiology and effectiveness of whiplash prevention systems. Maria Krafft Folksam Sweden
Correlation crash severity and duration whiplash symptoms Crash test with car seats The effectiveness of whiplash prevention systems based on real life collisions Rear impacts
All rear-end impacts 35% initial symptoms 10% Permanent disability
Real-life crashes with ”black boxes” Car models –Corolla > –Yaris –Avensis No previous whiplash injury No multiple collisions
Example Delta-V 26 km/h Mean acc 5.6 g Peak acc 12.6 g Whiplash symptoms > 6 m WAD grade Acc (g) DV (km/h) Time (ms)
Numbers of drivers and front seat passengers with different duration of symptoms DriverFSPTotal All Uninjured Symptoms < 1m m<symptoms<6m7 ** 07 Symptoms > 6m11 * 6*6* 17 * One lumbar spine injury ** Two thoracic spine injuries
Change of velocity
Mean acceleration
Injury risk in intervals of change of velocity for occupants with initial and long-term symptoms
Injury risk in intervals of mean acceleration for occupants with initial and long-term symptoms
Assessment of whiplash injury risk Sled test of car seats 3 crash severities/seat 3 dummy readings (NIC, Nkm and rebound)
Nissan Primera 24 km/h Opel Meriva 24 km/h
Results ,1 - 10,0 points Audi A4 Yellow ( 5,5 points ) Peugeot 307 Yellow ( 8,4 points ) Renault Megane Yellow ( 9,9 points ) Skoda Fabia Yellow ( 7,5 points ) Toyota Corolla Model year 1993 Yellow (6,8 points) With after market whiplash system 10,1 - 15,0 points BMW 3-serie Red ( 11,3 points ) Mercedes C-class Red ( 10,6 points ) Opel Astra(Standard) Red ( 12,1 points ) VW Polo Red ( 11,1 points ) Toyota Corolla Model year 1993 Red (10,7 points) No whiplash protection system 0 - 5,0 points Ford Mondeo Green ( 2,6 points ) Opel Astra(Optional) Green ( 4,7 points ) Saab 9-3 Green+ ( 0,9 points ) Toyota Corolla Green ( 3,0 points ) Volvo V70 Green+ ( 0,0 points ) Best Pick
Results 2004 Best Pick
Results 2005
All rear-end impacts 35% initial symptoms 10% Permanent disability
Whiplash Medical permanent disability No whiplash prot.Cars with effective whiplash protection Proportion of disabilities (%) 168/ / 289
Effect of Volvo and Saab whiplash protection systems (WHIPS and SAHR) Cars without whiplash protection systems ( crashes) Cars with whiplash protection systems (1813 crashes) Saab 9000Saab 9-5 Saab Saab 9-3 Volvo S40/V Volvo S40/V Volvo 850Volvo S80 Volvo V70/S
Average injury reducing effect of whiplash systems in Volvo and Saab cars (Whips and SAHR) 40% (+/- 21%) lower risk for whiplash injury with symptoms for more than 6 months
Summary New whiplash protective systems good effect Injury criteria mirror whiplash injury risk Consumer tests urgent