Characteristics of pedestrian injuries caused due to impacts with powered 2-wheelers in India

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to understand the nature, severity, and sources of injuries sustained by pedestrians involved in crashes with powered 2-wheelers (PTWs) in India. Further, it aims to understand the pedestrian injury pattern and injury mechanism based on the pedestrian contact location on the PTW.

Methods: Eight years of field data from the Road Accident Sampling System–India (RASSI) database were considered for the study. Analyses were performed using both weighted and unweighted RASSI data. A sample of 57 crashes between pedestrians and PTWs was analyzed to determine the pedestrian injury characteristics, pedestrian orientation with PTW, and PTW contact zone (PCZ) or the pedestrian contact location on PTW. The PCZs were classified into 3 types. The risk of sustaining a Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) injury to the head and pedestrian injury mechanism across the 3 PCZs was analyzed.

Results: The results of both weighted and unweighted RASSI data were consistent. About 67% of pedestrians who were killed sustained MAIS 3+ head injuries and 52% of pedestrians with nonfatal injuries sustained MAIS 2+ lower extremity injuries. The risk of MAIS 3+/fatal head injury is notably higher (86%) for pedestrians struck from behind compared to pedestrians struck from the side (36%). Of the 3 PCZs, about 80% of the pedestrians contacting PCZ-1 (corner of the PTW front end) sustained fatal head injuries and only 5% contacting PCZ-2 (center of the PTW front end) sustained fatal head injuries. About 40% contacting PCZ-3 (combination of PCZ-1 and PCZ-2) sustained fatal head injuries. Of all AIS 3+ head injuries, 88% were associated with ground impacts. Of all AIS 2+ lower extremity injuries, 96% were associated with impacts to PTW front-end parts.

Conclusions: The results show that head injuries account for most pedestrian fatalities in crashes with PTWs and lower extremity injuries account for most nonfatal injuries. Head injuries are associated with ground contacts and lower extremity injuries are associated with contacting PTW front-end parts. Pedestrians contacting the corner of the PTW are highly prone to MAIS 3+ head injuries, whereas pedestrians contacting the center of the PTW are less prone to MAIS 3+ head injuries. This difference is predominantly because of the varied injury mechanisms seen across PCZs.

Keywords:

• Vulnerable road users (VRUs)
• powered 2-wheelers (PTWs)
• pedestrians
• inter-VRU crashes
• PTW–pedestrian crashes
• Indian crash data

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the data provided from the Road Accident Sampling System–India (RASSI) database and the RASSI Consortium who sponsor in-depth crash data collection efforts, namely, Robert Bosch GmbH, Nissan Motor Company, Daimler AG, Toyota, Renault SAS, Hyundai KIA Motors, Honda, Autoliv, Maruti Suzuki, TATA Motors, Mahindra Rise, Continental, and JP Research, Inc. The authors also extend their sincere thanks to all of the crash investigators at JP Research India Private Limited for their in-depth crash data collection efforts under the RASSI initiative.

The RASSI Consortium had no role in the data analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the article.