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This study conducted a series of rear-impact, side-impact, barrier, and free-operation collisions using a bumper car ride at an active amusement park. Two conditions were studied: staged and free operation. Each staged test included a bullet (impacting) vehicle operated by a rider and a target (impacted) static vehicle or structure. Impact configurations of frontal collisions of the bullet vehicle into the rear and side of a target vehicle were consistent with the existing literature. The free operation condition involved collisions which were not pre-determined, and operators may not have been prepared for collision timing, magnitude, and direction. Results demonstrated high repeatability for vehicle parameters, such as impact velocity, change in velocity, and peak acceleration.

Head injuries are the most common injuries sustained by children in motor vehicle crashes regardless of age, restraint and crash direction. Previous research identified the front seat back as relevant contact point associated with head injuries sustained by restrained rear seated child occupants. The objective of this study was to conduct a test series of headform impacts to seat backs to evaluate the energy management characteristics of relevant contact points for pediatric head injury. A total of eight seats were tested: two each of 2007 Ford Focus, Toyota Corolla, 2006 Volvo S40, and 2008 Volkswagen Golf. Five to six contact points were chosen for each unique seat model guided by contact locations determined from real world crashes. Each vehicle seat was rigidly mounted in the center track position with the seatback angle adjusted to 70 degrees above the horizontal.