Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport
(Copenhagen, IDA Automotive)
How to use safety belts for children
Farid Bendjellal, BRITAX Group
17 June 2014
Contents
I. Important crash configurations involving
children
II. Child safety seats categories
III. Vehicle safety belt & child restraint (4 years +)
IV. Regulatory requirements for approving child
seats in cars
V. Children in coaches: example of R&D program
in Spain
VI. Conclusion
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
I. Important crash configurations involving
children
ALL IMPACTS Severe INJURIES
FRONTAL IMPACT
Moderate to severe INJURIES
11%
10%
24%
37%
36%
Front Impact
Side Impact
Multiple Impacts
Neck
5%
Chest
5%
Abdomen
Rear Impact
19%
Head
Pelvis
20%
7%
26%
1. Frontal Impact: 1 out of 3 crashes
2. Side Impact: 1 out of 5
3. Head: #1 injured body segment
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Upper Limbs
Lower limbs
Gidas Germany 1999 - 2009 data
German In-depth Accident Analysis
Area around Dresden and Hannover
I. Important crash configurations involving
children
Real World
Accident
Expert &
Medical
Report s
Test protocol
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Accident
Scenario
Virtual Reconstruction
I. Important crash configurations involving
children
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Frontal impact
Side impact
Rear impact
Roll over
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
I. Important crash configurations involving
children
Front structure absorbs crash
energy – Occupant space saved
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Side structure absorbs minor part
of crash energy – Nearside
occupant too close to intrusion
I. Important crash configurations involving
children
High Misuse Rate Increasing Injury Frequency
Infant carriers
Harnessed Seat Group 1,
Convertible
Booster Seats
• Head is exposed
as a result of
carrier or the head
contacting the car
interior (front seat
back)
Harnessed Seats
• Head and upper and lower limbs
exposed due to contacts with car
interior
Combination Seats
• In addition to head , abdomen is
exposed due to direct loading from
the car belt
• Head, upper and lower limbs
exposed due to contact with
car interior
• Chest and abdomen more
exposed with booster cushions
and adult belt, because of
direct belt loading
• Abdomen is exposed due to
direct loading from the car belt
Frequency and severity of injuries
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Source: European Enhanced Vehicle Safety Committee
low
mid
high
II. Child safety seats categories
Classifications of Child Seats: Mass Groups
(ECE R44/04
EU Regulation for child seats)
In general combined:
Group
2/3
Mass
(approximate age)
Group 0
up to 10kg
(to 9 months)
Group 0+
up to 13kg
(to 18 months)
Group I
9-18 kg
(9 months – 3 ½ years)
Group II
15-25 kg
(3 to 7 years)
Group III
22-36 kg
(6 to 12 years)
Combined Mass Groups : 0/1 ; 0/2
The most popular groups
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
III. Vehicle safety belt & child restraint (4 years +)
Why kids need booster?
Key role of a booster
Child‘s pelvic anatomy differs from the adult‘s
one: Iliac wing height smaller and more
deformable structure, belt may slip over the
pelvis and loads directly the abdomen
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Proper routing of
the lap belt and
maintaining the
belt in the thighs
III. Vehicle safety belt & child restraint (4 years +)
Investigation: installation tests of children in 3 types of cars
 Installation in 3 different car categorises:
• Compact car FIAT 500 2011
• Mid range car VW Golf VI 2011
• Van VW Sharan 2011
 Installation with children in 3 different size range
• 1,05m / 4,5 years / 20kg / Female
• 1,40m / 9 years / 34kg / Female
• 1,47m / 9 years / 35,5kg / Female
 Booster with backrest and Booster only
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Belt Routing│ 1,05m / 4,5 years / 20kg / Female
 Booster with backrest
Compact Car
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Mid Range
Car
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Van
Belt Routing│ 1,40m / 9 years / 34kg / Female
 Booster with backrest
Compact Car
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Mid Range
Car
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Van
Belt Routing│ 1,47m / 9 years / 35,5kg / Female
 Booster with backrest
Compact Car
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Mid Range
Car
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Van
Belt Routing│ 1,40m / 9 years / 34kg / Female
 Booster only
Compact Car
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Mid Range
Car
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Van
Belt Routing│ 1,47m / 9 years / 35,5kg / Female
 Booster only
Compact Car
15
Mid Range
Car
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
Van
IV. Regulatory requirements for approving child
seats in cars
Vehicles
+
Child seats
Approval
system
UN ECE R16
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UN ECE R14
F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
UN ECE R44
IV. Regulatory requirements for approving child
seats in cars
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
V. Children in coaches: example of R&D program
in Spain
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
V. Children in coaches: example of R&D program
in Spain
http://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/trans/doc/2008/wp29grsp/GRSP-44-29e.pdf
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
V. Children in coaches: example of R&D program
in Spain
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen
VI. Conclusions
Recommendations for securing children 4 years + in coaches
 Key problem to solve: control occupant displacement in
real world crashes
 Avoid occupant ejection in frontal and rollover crashes
 Belt geometry that ensures proper restraint in those crash
situations
 Booster seat cushion appears to be a reasonable solution
 Need for a European wide standard to implement
harmonized solutions
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F. Bendjellal_Conference: Safety belts in passenger transport, IDA Automotive, Copenhagen