Development of Test Procedures for Lower Interior Rear Seat Occupant Protection

NHTSA-Vehicle Safety Research2022PDFTech ReportWietholter, KedrynUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Vehicle Research and Test CenterUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Office of Vehicle Safety ResearchUnited States. Department of Transportation. National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationUnited StatesRear seatsInjuriesHeadCrash injuriesRear seat occupantsOccupant kineticsFMVSS No. 201DOT HS 813 319Final ReportNHTSA conducted research to develop test procedures and assessment criteria to address injuries from impacts with lower interior surfaces in the rear seat, focusing on head and face injuries due to contacts with seat backs, head restraints, and lower B-pillars. To evaluate the head injury potential of production vehicles, vehicles were tested using a methodology based on the upper interior test procedure of FMVSS No. 201. Three targets were chosen on the seat back and one on the head restraint for each seat model. Elevated Head Injury Criterion (HIC) results from contact to these surfaces were found, as were feasible137