| 1. |
- Andersson, Marianne, 1969, et al.
(författare)
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Effect of booster seat design on children's choice of seating positions during naturalistic riding
- 2010
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Ingår i: Annals of Advances in Automotive Medicine - 54th Annual Scientific Conference; Las Vegas, USA, 17-20 October 2010. - 1943-2461. ; , s. 171-180
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this naturalistic study was to investigate the effect of booster seat design on the choice of children’s seating positions during naturalistic riding. Data was collected through observations of children during in-vehicle riding by means of a film camera. The children were positioned in high back boosters in the rear seat while a parent drove the car. The study included two different booster designs: one with large head and torso side supports, and one with small head side supports and no torso side supports. Six children between three and six years of age participated in the study. Each child was observed in both boosters. The duration of the seating positions that each child assumed was quantified. The design with large side head supports resulted more often in seating positions without head and shoulder contact with the booster’s back. There was shoulder-to-booster back contact during an average of 45% of riding time in the seat with the large head side supports compared to 75% in the seat with the small head supports. The children in the study were seated with the head in front of the front edge of the head side supports more than half the time, in both boosters. Laterally, the children were almost constantly positioned between the side supports of the booster in both seats. The observed seating positions probably reduce the desired protective effect by the side supports in side impact, and may increase the probability of head impact with the vehicle interior in frontal impact.
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| 2. |
- Arbogast, Kristy B, et al.
(författare)
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Child Occupant Protection: Latest Knowledge and Future Opportunities – Results of a 2015 Workshop in Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2015
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Ingår i: 13th International Conference on Protection of children in cars, December 3 – 4, Munich, Germany.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Child occupant protection research remains a critical need for industry, academia, government and safety advocacy organizations. While reductions in fatalities and serious injuries have been achieved, motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death and disability for children and adolescents and as a result, represent a public health priority.To facilitate international coordination and sharing of knowledge around this topic, the fourth biennial international workshop on Child Occupant Protection was convened in September 2015, bringing together worldwide leaders in the fields of child occupant protection, biomechanics, and auto safety to critically review the state-of-knowledge in the field and identify high-priority research topics and strategize toward their implementation.Summaries of previous workshops were presented at the 2011 and 2013 Protection of Children in Cars Conferences. The following describes the recommendations that emanated from the 2015 meeting.
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| 3. |
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| 4. |
- Baker, Gretchen H., et al.
(författare)
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Comparison of Self-Selected, Holding Device, and Nominal Conditions on the Belt Fit and Posture of Children on Belt-Positioning Boosters
- 2023
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Ingår i: Conference proceedings International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury, IRCOBI. - 2235-3151. ; , s. 665-689
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Children assume a range of postures when utilising belt-positioning boosters, which may influence belt fit and have implications for dynamic performance. This study evaluates the belt fit and posture of children on boosters while assuming different postures: self-selected, holding device, and nominal. Children (n=25) were recruited (4–11 years, 103.0–146.5 cm, 17.8–33.6 kg) and evaluated on two of five randomised boosters. A 3D coordinate measurement device and an inertial measurement unit-based motion capture system quantified posture, e.g., head, torso, and pelvis positions and orientations, and belt fit, e.g., shoulder belt score, lap belt score, maximum gap size, gap length. Outcomes were compared across postural conditions and boosters using repeated-measures ANOVA. The device condition produced significantly more forward and flexed head postures compared to self-selected and nominal (by 58 mm and 15.0° on average). Variation was small in terms of belt fit and belt gap metrics between postural conditions, suggesting that belt routing features provided similar belt placement despite postural adjustment; however, greater variation is expected in naturalistic settings. This study is the first to directly evaluate the posture and belt fit of children while holding electronic devices and to investigate the influence of different postural conditions on belt fit and postural outcomes.
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| 5. |
- Baker, Gretchen, et al.
(författare)
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Kinematics and Shoulder Belt Engagement of Children on Belt-Positioning Boosters during Emergency Braking Events
- 2017
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Ingår i: Conference proceedings International Research Council on the Biomechanics of Injury, IRCOBI. - 2235-3151. ; 2017-September:IRC-17-51
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Emergency braking can influence children’s posture and seatbelt interaction. To better protect children in crashes preceded by emergency braking, this study a ims to quantify kinematics and seatbelt engagement during braking events . Eighteen rear‐seated children were exposed to braking events with 1 g deceleration in a passenger vehi cle, restrained by the seatbelt on a booster cushion and an integrated booster cushion. Vehicle acceleration and video data were analysed to m easure head displacement and shoulder belt position. On the booster cushion the belt was generally mid‐sho ulder and lower on the torso with a gap, while on the integrated booster cushion i t was closer to the neck and hi gher on the torso without a gap. Average forward head displacement was 160 mm on the booster cushion and 150 mm on the integrated booster cushion. Generally, the belt maintained the same position on the shoulde r throughout braking, with exceptions influenced by shifted initial positions or non‐standard motions. Braking e vents placed the head approximately 150‐190 mm forward from the initial position, influenced by booster, statu re, and initial seatbelt positioning. This reinforces the importance of maintaining mid‐shoulder or close to neck bel t positions and upright, centred postures prior to emergency braking, which may influence the likelihood of imp acting the vehicle interior and sustaining head injuries in a subsequent crash.
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| 6. |
- Baker, Gretchen, 1994, et al.
(författare)
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KINEMATICS AND SHOULDER BELT ENGAGEMENT OF CHILDREN ON BELT-POSITIONING BOOSTERS DURING EVASIVE STEERING MANEUVERS
- 2017
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective: To increase the protection of child passengers in crashes preceded by evasive steering, understanding of how children interact with the seatbelt in such situations is essential. This study aims to quantify child kinematics and describe child-to-restraint interaction during evasive steering maneuvers. Methods: Eighteen child volunteers (aged 5-10) were seated on the rear seat of a passenger vehicle. A professional driver made repeatable sharp turns at 50 km/h. Children were restrained by the seatbelt on a booster cushion (BC) and on an integrated booster cushion (IBC). Kinematics of the nasion and upper sternum were analyzed with video tracking software and shoulder belt (SB) engagement and position were evaluated. Results: Children moved laterally inboard, and SB-to-body interaction was influenced by booster and stature. For shorter children, the SB was closer to the neck with more of the belt webbing in contact with the torso and a more curved belt paths on the IBC compared to the BC, where less of the SB was in contact with the torso and straight belt paths were observed throughout steering. Taller children generally had the SB initially mid-shoulder with more contact between the SB and torso, resulting in curved belt paths at initial and maximum displacement on both boosters. Children loaded the shoulder belt by axially rotating their torso into the SB more often on the IBC compared to BC. The SB generally stayed on the shoulder, with 89% of slip-off instances occurring for shorter children on the BC. Shorter children on the BC had the largest average inboard nasion displacement of 105 mm initially and 120 mm overall. Taller children on the BC had the lowest average inboard displacement of the nasion (85 mm initially, 100 mm overall). All children initially displaced on average between 65-75 mm inboard with their sternum and 90 mm overall. Conclusions: Initial SB position on the shoulder and torso differed with booster and stature, which influenced how children engaged with the seatbelt during steering. Children with less SB initially in contact with the torso moved laterally behind the belt, resulting in straighter SB paths and outboard motion of the SB on the shoulder (often ending far out or slipped-off). When more of the SB was initially in contact with the torso, children tended to engage the SB more, moving with the belt and causing the SB path to become more curved, resulting in less inboard head displacement and less outboard motion of the SB on the shoulder. Enhanced understanding of how evasive steering affects the kinematic response of children provides valuable data for protection of children in real world situations.
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| 7. |
- Baker, Gretchen, 1994, et al.
(författare)
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Kinematics and shoulder belt engagement of children on belt-positioning boosters during evasive steering maneuvers
- 2018
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Ingår i: Traffic Injury Prevention. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1538-957X .- 1538-9588. ; 19:S1, s. S131-S138
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To increase the protection of child passengers in crashes preceded by evasive steering, understanding of how children interact with the seat belt in such situations is essential. This study aims to quantify child kinematics and describe child-to-restraint interaction during evasive steering maneuvers. Methods: Eighteen child volunteers (aged 5–10) were seated on the rear seat of a passenger vehicle. A professional driver made repeatable sharp turns at 50 km/h. Children were restrained by the seat belt on a booster cushion (BC) and on an integrated booster cushion (IBC). Kinematics of the nasion and upper sternum were analyzed with video tracking software and shoulder belt (SB) engagement and position were evaluated. Results: Children moved laterally inboard, and SB-to-body interaction was influenced by booster and stature. Shorter children displayed initial SB positions closer to the neck with less instances of gap between the SB and the lower torso, resulting in more curved belt paths on the IBC. On the BC, shorter children had less of the SB in contact with the torso and straight belt paths were observed throughout steering. Taller children generally had the SB initially mid-shoulder with less instances of gap, resulting in curved belt paths at initial and maximum displacements on both boosters. Children loaded the shoulder belt by axially rotating their torso into the SB more often on the IBC compared to BC. The SB generally stayed on the shoulder, with 89% of slip-off instances occurring for shorter children on the BC. Shorter children on the BC had the largest average inboard nasion displacement (120 mm). Taller children on the BC had the lowest average inboard displacement of the nasion (100 mm). All children initially displaced on average 90 mm inboard with their upper sternum. Conclusions: Initial SB position on the shoulder and torso differed with booster and stature, which influenced how children engaged with the seat belt during steering. Children with less SB initially in contact with the torso moved laterally behind the belt, resulting in straighter SB paths and outboard motion of the SB on the shoulder (often ending far out or slipped off). When more of the SB was initially in contact with the torso, children tended to engage the SB more, moving with the belt and causing the SB path to become more curved, resulting in less inboard head displacement and less outboard motion of the SB on the shoulder. Enhanced understanding of how evasive steering affects the kinematic response of children provides valuable data for protection of children in real-world situations.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Bohman, Katarina, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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A comparison of seat belt fit and comfort experience between elderly and younger front seat passengers in cars
- 2019
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Ingår i: Traffic Injury Prevention. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1538-957X .- 1538-9588. ; 20:sup2, s. S7-S12
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective : The purpose was to study how occupant age affects seat belt fit and comfort by comparing older adults and younger occupants in the front seat of a passenger vehicle. Methods : An exploratory user study was performed for the front seat of a stationary large passenger vehicle in a laboratory environment, including 11 older (aged 72–81) and 11 younger (aged 25–30) participants. Each participant first entered the vehicle and buckled up in a predefined seat position. Next, they adjusted the seat to their preferred seat position and buckled up again. Anthropometric data were collected on height, weight, and waist and hip circumferences. Photographs and measurements were taken of seat/seat belt positions and posture, and structured interviews were conducted regarding comfort perceptions of the 2 tested scenarios, including previous experience and awareness of seat belt usage and discomfort experienced as passengers in cars. Results : Nonoptimal belt fit included shoulder belt on the shoulder edge or close to the neck or lap belt over the abdomen. Five of 11 older adults had nonoptimal belt fit in the predefined position, and in the preferred position 7 older adults had nonoptimal belt fit. Only one showed safety awareness and recognized the nonoptimal belt fit in the preferred position. In the younger group, 4 of 11 had nonoptimal belt fit in the predefined position and 4 in the preferred position. Two acknowledged the nonoptimal belt fit. Older adult participants with a more pronounced kyphotic posture had the upper part of the shoulder belt positioned closer to the suprasternal notch compared to younger participants. Older adults were also more likely to have the lower part of the shoulder belt higher up on the abdomen compared to younger participants. Participants with higher body mass indexes (BMIs) were more likely to have the shoulder belt higher up on the abdomen, independent of age and gender. When the shoulder belt was positioned higher up on the abdomen the upper portion of the shoulder belt was routed closer to the throat. Older adults preferred to sit higher up to achieve a better field of vision compared to younger adults. Conclusions : The change in body posture due to aging influences belt fit. Older adults seemed less aware of safety related to belt fit. Increased BMI influenced shoulder belt fit, independent of age. These findings are important when designing restraint systems to ensure safety for all occupants.
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| 10. |
- Bohman, Katarina
(författare)
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Car safety for children aged 4-12 : real world evaluations of long-term injury outcome, head injury causation scenarios, misuse, and pre-crash manoeuvre kinematics
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Child casualties in car crashes have decreased over the years. Nevertheless, occupant safety in rear seats, especially for children 4-12 years old, needs further attention because motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death and long-term health consequences for children. The aim of this thesis was to obtain comprehensive knowledge of real-life situations for restrained, forward-facing, rear-seated children aged 4-12 years, in frontal car crashes as a basis for vehicle safety improvements to reduce long-term health consequences. The thesis is comprised of four studies based on child-specific data from Sweden and the US. Study I was based on injury data from insurance claim files, covering 2619 injured children in Sweden. Study II was an experimental study of restraint misuse, including 130 Swedish children. Study III analyzed crash data included 27 cases from two US databases, to determine injury causation scenarios. Study IV was a driving study of how pre-crash maneuvers affect child occupant kinematics with 16 children included. The results of Study I emphasized the importance of looking beyond acute, severe injuries and also examine injuries (regardless of initial injury severity) resulting in permanent medical impairment. The vast majority of injuries with the higher degree of permanent medical impairment were severe injuries to the head. The most frequent injuries leading to permanent medical impairment were minor injuries to the neck and head. To reduce the risk of head injuries among children in car crashes, a fundamental step is to ensure that vehicle restraint systems are adapted to the child, physically and behaviorally, and that the child is properly restrained. An experimental study (Study II) of children using integrated booster cushions compared to aftermarket belt positioning booster cushions, showed that misuse related to buckling up, a problem for decades, can be reduced to a minimum by the design of an integrated booster cushion. Minimizing misuse will lead to increases in proper positioning of the restraint on the child and may translate to reductions in head injury risk. Therefore, car manufacturers should focus on integrated booster cushions, preferably as standard equipment. Even with proper use, however, restrained children in rear seats sustained head injuries in frontal impacts by impacting their heads on the side interior and on the seat back in front of them. Oblique impacts and pre-crash steering maneuvers contributed to both these injurycausation scenarios (Study III). Therefore, pre-crash steering maneuvers were further explored in a driving study and it was confirmed that these common pre-crash maneuvers can result in an unstable restraint situation that may potentially compromise rear occupant safety in the event of a crash (Study IV). In conclusion, the primary recommendation as a result of this research is to protect the head and neck of child occupants from both minor and severe injuries, since all severity levels of injuries may result in long-term consequences. Frontal impacts, including oblique impacts or maneuvers prior to impact, need to be addressed to develop “tolerant” restraint systems. Furthermore, it is recommendable to design and use vehicle-built-in restraint systems to improve crash safety among children, by facilitating proper use of the restraint and placement on the child, as has been previously done for front-seated adults. To incentivize vehicle manufacturers to accelerate the implementation of child safety improvements within their vehicles, an assessment of child safety for 4-12-year-old children should be included in consumer rating programs and legal requirements.
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