| With the increasing strict safety laws in
force, it is no wonder why carmakers are investing such huge sums in staying
ahead of the game. Volvo in particular prides itself heavily on safety
and it is for this reason it needs to be at the forefront of certain technology,
especially when it comes to occupant safety.
Volvo has created the world's first pregnant crash test dummy |
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New on the scene is the world's first pregnant crash test dummy model
created at the carmaker's safety centre in Gothenburg, Sweden. Through
tests using this dummy, Volvo experts can learn more about the impacts
of the seatbelt and airbag on a mother and unborn baby in car accidents.
The computerised model represents a woman called Linda. She is at a late
stage of her pregnancy, the time when the unborn baby is at greatest risk
in an accident. Simulated front-end impact tests are being used to study
in great detail how the seat belt moves and its combined influence with
the airbag on the uterus, placenta and foetus, as well as how the foetus
moves in relation to the mother's body.
"Currently, the seatbelt is the best form of protection for pregnant
women and their babies, but it is crucial to wear it in the right way.
It should fit close to the body, go between the breasts and as low as
possible over the hips," explains Laura Thackray, a biomechanical
engineer at thesafety centre. "The lap section of the belt shouldn't
be allowed to ride up in front of the tummy, as that could harm the baby."
"I am certain that there is room for further development of the three-point
belt, to make it more comfortable and to provide optimised protection,"
she adds.
In an accident, the belt restrains both the pregnant woman's thorax and
pelvis, but her abdomen is free to move in the direction determined by
the particular forces arising from the impact. Because the foetus is floating
inside the womb, the more likely potential injury is the placenta becoming
either partially or completely detached, which means that the baby cannot
get enough oxygen. The rarer scenario is for the baby to sustain physical
injury from impacting with the mother's pelvic bones or the car’s
interior.
"While the uterus is relatively elastic and can therefore change
shape, we think the placenta may become detached because it is not equally
resilient to the forces sustained during an accident," Thackray explains.
"We think so, but we don’t know yet. That is why this model
is so important. We have to find out more to be able to protect the foetus
in the best possible way."
The model will also be used to test new seatbelt designs and other safety
systems.
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