Injuries Survey Report
Page 40
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ECOMMENDATIONS for improvements in vehicle design to lessen the risk of injuries or to minimize their severity when road accidents occur are made in the first report of the Road Injuries Research Group, published on Tuesday. The establishment of the Research Group at the Birmingham Accident Hospital was announced by the Duke of Edinburgh, as President of the Automobile Association, followingthe annual meeting of the A.A. in May, 1960. 'The A.A. has set aside £30,000 to finance the group over a period of seven years. In their report, which covers 10 months work, the directors of the Research Group, Mr. William Gissanc. Ch.M., F.R.C.S., Hon. F.R.A.C.S., and Dr. Johr P. Bull, M.D., draw attention to features of vehicle design which. according to their analysis, are the most common causes of injuries in road accidents. With regard to heavy vehicles, the report makes these points:—
The field of vision of the driver is often restricted so that he cannot see children who may be immediately in front when the lorry moves off from rest. The high clearance of the sides of many heavy lorries and trucks allows persons ejected from cars, motor and pedal cycles, to be run over by the twin rear wheels.
The long overhang of many heavy vehicles and trucks is a particular hazard to cars and motorcycles in night collisions, often when the heavy truck is stationary and ill-lighted at the roadside. In these circumstances cars and motorcycles have often been jammed under the overhang and the occupants and riders of these vehicles received very serious facial, neck and chest injuries.
The accompanying illustration shows how a heavy vehicle might look if its design were as advocated by the group.