In 1995, new seat specifications were adopted by GM to provide high retention and improve occupant safety in rear crashes. With more than five years of phase-in of high retention (HR) seats, an analysis of FARS was undertaken to determine the initial field performance of HR seats in preventing fatalities. The 1991-2000 FARS was sorted for fatal rear-impacted vehicles. Using a VIN decoder, GM vehicles with HR front seats were sorted from those with baseline (pre-HR) seats. The fatal rear--impacted vehicle crashes were subdivided into several groups for analysis: 1) single-vehicle rear impacts, 2) two-vehicle rear crashes involving light striking vehicles, and 3) two-vehicle crashes involving heavy trucks and tractor-trailers, and multi-vehicle (3+) rear crashes. While more field data is needed to increase confidence in the results, FARS analysis shows that high-retention seats reduce the risk of driver fatalities in single-vehicle rear crashes by 50 % (-26 %, 80 %, +/-95 % CI) and driver/RF deaths by 59 % (11 %, 81 %). For two-vehicle rear-impact crashes, high-retention seats reduce the risk of driver death by 54 % (-23 %, 83 %) and driver/RF deaths by 35 % (-38 %, 70 %) when impacted by light vehicles. There is no difference in risk with heavy truck or tractor-trailer impacts or in multi-vehicle (3+ vehicles involved) crashes. The new Generation of seats was developed for high retention based on a perimeter seat frame design that allows the occupant to penetrate between the side frames of the seatback giving a 'yielding' performance and pocketing of the pelvis. This increases retention and provides uniform support for the spine. The new generation of seats also includes a higher and more forward placement of the head restraint to reduce neck extension-related injury. That aspect of the seat performance cannot be studied with the FARS data. The initial trends show that high-retention seats are effective in reducing the risk of fatal injury in single vehicle and light vehicle-to-vehicle rear impacts.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Effectiveness of high-retention seats in preventing fatality: Initial results and trends


    Additional title:

    Effektivität von Autositzen mit starker Rückhaltung zur Vermeidung von Verletzungen: erste Ergebnisse und Trends


    Contributors:
    Viano, D.C. (author)


    Publication date :

    2003


    Size :

    13 Seiten, 5 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 29 Quellen




    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Effectiveness of high-retention seats in preventing fatality: initial results and trends

    Viano,D.C. / ProBiomechanics,US | Automotive engineering | 2003



    U.S. Vision Zero Cities: modal fatality trends and strategy effectiveness

    Ferenchak, Nicholas N. | Taylor & Francis Verlag | 2023

    Free access

    Retention systems and methods for ejection seats

    WIMMER DUSTIN / SHAW GLEN | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access

    RETENTION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EJECTION SEATS

    WIMMER DUSTIN / SHAW GLEN | European Patent Office | 2023

    Free access