Crashworthiness of vehicle-to-pole collisions using a hybrid III three-year-old child dummy

This paper focuses on minimising child injuries experienced during frontal vehicle-to-pole collisions by improving on the safety and energy absorption of existing traffic pole structures. A finite element computer model, using LS-DYNA software, is used to simulate crash events in order to determine the influence of pole structural and material characteristics on the injury parameters of a three-year-old child dummy occupant. Five different pole support systems and laminar traffic poles of different materials are investigated in this paper. It is concluded that the anchored base support system provides desirable crashworthy results, thus reducing fatalities and injuries resulting from vehicle impact. It is also recommended to mandate traffic protection devices in all areas with poor energy absorbing characteristics that resemble non-deformable objects.