Effects of Side-Impact Padding on Driver Performance

Recent research has indicated that the best method of protecting vehicle occupants in side impacts is to provide as much energy-absorbing padding as possible between the occupant and the side-door panel. On the driver's side of the vehicle, however, it is essential that the driver's ability to control the automobile not be degraded. Two experiments were undertaken to design and evaluate an acceptable side-door panel for a compact vehicle. Once a padding design has been determined, other studies can define the appropriate energy-absorbing materials and the panel's injury-mitigation potential. In Experiment I, driver arm movements and, hence, lateral-clearance requirements were defined from driving data. Based on these requirements, a candidate side-panel interior padding was designed. During Experiment 2, the effects of candidate door panels on driver performance were evaluated in a closed-course experiment. The results indicated a statistically significant increase in time required to complete a lane change as padding thickness increased.