Traumatic Brain Injury in Vulnerable Road Users: Analysis of German In-Depth Crash Data to Inform Targeted Prevention

Authors: Shiyang Meng, Autoliv Research & KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; Ron Schindler, Autoliv Research, Sweden & Autoliv BV & Co. KG, Germany; Svein Kleiven, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden; Nils Lubbe, Autoliv Research & Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Abstract

Road traffic crashes are a major cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly among vulnerable road users (VRUs). However, current injury prevention strategies often overlook the heterogeneity of TBI—which include various injury types and severities—leading to an oversimplified approach to evaluating helmets and safety systems in regulations and ratings. To identify priority TBI types and severities in VRUs and to inform targeted prevention strategies, the German In-Depth Accident Study database was analyzed and a pathoanatomic classification system, i.e., Abbreviated Injury Scale, was employed. AIS 2 (moderate) TBIs account for 70-80% of all brain injuries across VRU groups, nearly half of which are concussions. For helmeted cyclists, milder TBIs are more frequent than for unhelmeted cyclists. These findings highlight the need for expanding prevention efforts to include AIS 2+ injuries. Key injury types observed include concussion (with and without loss of consciousness), skull base fracture, subdural hemorrhage, contusion and laceration. New mechanism-specific injury criteria may be needed to address these injuries. The strong similarity in injury type ranking among different road users (the Kendall’s tau values ranged from 0.90 to 0.93) suggests similar needs for injury prevention. A new brain injury assessment criterion may serve all road user types. 

Type: Full Paper, Research

Keywords: Road traffic crashes, Traumatic brain injury, injury prevention, helmet 

© Stapp Association, 2025

Access Additional Papers from This Volume

View additional Full Papers from the Stapp Car Crash Journal, Volume 69.

• Assessment of the Skull Fracture Prediction Capability of Finite Element Head Models
  Authors: Clément Pozzi, Marc Gardegaront, Lucille Allegre, Philippe Beillas—Univ Lyon, Univ Lyon 1, Univ Eiffel, LBMC UMR_T9406, 69622 Lyon, France…
• Development of a Generic Nearside Impact Test Fixture for Evaluating In-Vehicle Crashworthiness of Wheelchairs
  Authors: Kyle Boyle, Jingwen Hu, Miriam Manary, Nichole R. Orton, Kathleen D. Klinich—University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute Abstract Current…
• Integration of Muscle Pre-tension and Activation to Evaluate Neck Muscle Strain Injury Risk during Simulated Rear Impacts Using a Finite Element Neck Model
  Authors: Matheus A. Correia, Stewart D. McLachlin, Duane S. Cronin—Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo Abstract Prevention…
• Investigation of Injury Risk Functions of THOR-AV 50th Percentile Male Dummy
  Author: Z. Jerry Wang and George Hu—Humanetics Innovative Solutions, Inc. Abstract This research investigated injury risk functions (IRF) for the…
• Proposed Reformulation of Brain Injury Criteria (BrIC) Using Head Rotation-Induced Brain Injury Thresholds Simulated and Derived Directly from a Subhuman Primate Finite Element Model
  Authors: Dominic R. Demma, Ying Tao, Liying Zhang—Wayne State University; Priya Prasad—Prasad Engineering, LLC Abstract Recent studies have found that…
• Traumatic Head and Brain Injuries in Helmeted Motorcycle Crashes
  Author: John Lloyd—BRAINS, Inc Abstract This study presents an analysis of 364 motorcycle helmet impact tests, including standard certified full-face,…

Looking for Something Else?