20-April-07UNECE Transport Division Road Safety Week 23 – 27 April 2007

20-April-07 UNECE Transport Division

Road Safety Week23 – 27 April 2007


FRONTAL IMPACT

Progress of vehicle safety regarding the protection of occupants against

frontal collision.


The following video shows the vehicle design achievements implemented to comply with the progressively stringent requirements of UNECE Regulation No. 94 since 1995.



CRASH COMPATIBILITY

Future achievementsconcerning “Crash compatibility”

between cars of different dimensions and masses.


•The more rugged construction of pickup trucks, minivans and sports utility vehicles, may make them fundamentally dangerous in crashes with ordinary passenger cars.

•The following video shows a lateral impact test replicating a crash between a city car and a Sports Utility Vehicle (substituted by a test trolley).



PEDESTRIAN PROTECTION

Future achievementsconcerning “Pedestrian protection”.


Pedestrian fatalities account for 20% of traffic fatalities in Europe.



ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

Progress in the active safety of vehicles brought about by the

implementation of electronic devices to enhance vehicle stability.


Crash data studies conducted in Europe, Japan and the United States of America indicate that these systems have shown the greatest life saving benefits since the introduction of safety belts.



THE USE OF SAFETY-BELTS


Safety belts when used properly reduce the number of serious traffic injuries by 50 percent and fatalities by 60-70 percent (James Madison University - USA).



VEHICLE CHILD SAFETY IN VEHICLES


Of the children aged 0 to 14 years who were killed in motor vehicle crashes during 2005, nearly half were unrestrained (NHTSA-USA).



Moreover, even when children are secured in motor vehicles in child seats, 60% of the seats are incorrectly fitted (GMTV survey – UK 2004).



•The “ISOFIX” system copes effectively with misuse.

•UNECE Regulations provide the legal framework for the ISOFIX installation in motor vehicles since 2006.



INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS

Roundabouts


Roundabouts are very well established features of road design aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing conflicts at junctions.



IMPAIRED DRIVING



From an investigation of studies conducted in some countries it emerged that alcohol was present in between 33% and 69% of fatally-injured drivers.



USE OF HELMETS


Injuries to the head and neck are the main cause of death, severe injury and disability among users of motorcycles and bicycles.



A helmet aims to reduce the risk of serious head and brain injuries by reducing the impact of a force or collision to the head.


Documents

20-April-07UNECE Transport Division Road Safety Week 23 – 27 April 2007