Melissa Odling
Ergonomics and Human Factors
The aim of the study was to review in-depth UK accident data for pedestrians and cyclists to explore real world vehicle impacts and how these compare to pedestrian impact tests conducted by Euro NCAP.
Major project
Analysis of the Road Accident In-Depth Studies (RAIDS) database: Comparing pedestrian and cyclist collisions to Euro NCAP test protocol.
Comparing pedestrian and cyclist collisions to Euro NCAP test protocol
Euro NCAP pedestrian tests are the consumer tests relevant to the UK. The image depicts the impactors used and the breakdown of the secondary data from the Road Accident In-Depth Studies (RAIDS) database as the source of data for analysis in this exploratory study.
Two sample groups of 43 pedestrian and 63 cyclists, who had been impacted by a single vehicle, were created to explore impact characteristics. An Odds Ratio methodology from a previous European study was replicated.
Injured body regions in pedestrians split by Euro NCAP points
Injured body regions in pedestrians split by Euro NCAP points where group 1 are those vehicles scoring less than 18 points and group 2 those that score 18 or above. The odds of sustaining a thorax or upper extremity injury are significantly greater in a higher scoring Euro NCAP vehicle.
Figures are coloured; green = improved injury prevalence for higher scoring vehicle, amber = similar injury prevalence, red = higher injury prevalence in higher scoring vehicle
When pedestrians are struck by a higher rated Euro NCAP vehicle their odds of sustaining an AIS2+ or AIS3+ head or lower extremity injury are reduced however the odds of a thorax or upper extremity injury significantly increase. Further investigation is needed with a bigger sample that uses a methodology that incorporates the impact speed as a weighted contribution to injury outcomes and investigates the kinematics and implications of thorax and upper extremity injuries which are not currently part of the Euro NCAP testing protocol. It’s possible that the scope of the RAIDS data gathering is insufficient to provide large enough data sets that are representative of the UK population and can give statistically significant results.
Cyclist injured body regions
Cyclists injuries were split out by age, <60 years and >=60 years, however due to the very small sample size of female cyclists (total n=8) and male cyclists >=60 years (n=6), the analysis didn’t provide any more meaningful results than when considered together.
Cyclists injuries and collision types were more difficult to categorise than pedestrians and require further detailed investigation.
Pedestrian injured body regions, <60 years between males and females.
The analysis showed that for both males and females, and in <60 years and ≥60-year age groups, pedestrians mainly sustain AIS2+ and AIS2+ injuries to the head, thorax and lower extremities and cyclists sustain injuries to the head, thorax and spine.
Pedestrian injured body regions, >= 60 years between males and females.
Pedestrian injury distribution, for both age categories, broadly aligned with the European data but no significant conclusions could be made due to the small UK sample size.
Melissa Odling
Major project
Analysis of the Road Accident In-Depth Studies (RAIDS) database: Comparing pedestrian and cyclist collisions to Euro NCAP test protocol.