This paper reviews briefly the early evolution of the subject of the biomechanics of impacts. Some examples of rule-making of vehicle crash performance are cited to illustrate the need for evaluation of all design changes and regulations in the real world of crashes and injuries. Some background data on the relative frequencies of casualties and types of collisions are given to establish overall priorities. Mechanisms of injuries in frontal collisions for unrestrained and restrained occupants are described to illustrate the relationships between interior localized contacts and injuries to the lower limbs, the chest, and the head. Kinematics of occupants in angled, lateral, and rear collisions are reviewed together with the related injury mechanisms, and rollover crashes with and without seat belt use are mentioned. Motorcyclist and pedestrian kinematics and some of the desirable characteristics of the vehicle exterior are described together with the unfortunate consequences of the current bumper standards. In summary the paper aims to be a general review of crash kinematics and general mechanisms of injury.

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The evolution of experimental biomechanics and crash injury research is summarized briefly to show that they both play a major role in mitigating traffic deaths and injuries. Historically, the subject has been based largely in western countries and thus focused on vehicle occupants, whereas some 80% of traffic casualties in the world are outside the vehicle as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The subject is close to the regulatory process which controls vehicle design and is thus heavily influenced by government and industry, yet it is now in an expanding period because of new techniques to replicate the human frame's response to impact forces. New knowledge is likely to emerge from addressing population variations and combining real world accident investigations with experimental biomechanics. The application of impact biomechanics to the vulnerable road users is of particular importance.

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Background Despite the existence of effective measures to reduce child unintentional injury, they are not always adopted and implemented. A lot of what is known to work requires government action in the form of national level policy or legislation. Child Safety Report Cards, developed in Europe in 2005, identify policy gaps, allow general European-level comparisons and measurement of improvements over time. Aims/Objectives/Purpose To measure uptake and implementation of national level policies to support child injury prevention in 31 European countries in 2012 and progress over 5 years. Methods Data for 115 policy indicators addressing unintentional child injury were obtained using English language survey tools. Issue specific and overall scores were calculated. Trend analyses to compare scores in 2007, 2009 and 2012 were conducted using paired t-tests. Results/Outcome None of the countries have adopted and implemented all recommended policies. Uptake is highest for road safety, while uptake of those related to home safety is lower. Between 2007 and 2012 the change in overall score for the 16 countries participating in both time periods ranged from −6.5 to +18.5 with the greatest improvements occurring in fall prevention, burn/scald prevention, pedestrian safety and leadership, and in countries where investments have been made in the last 5 years (eg, Czech Republic, Hungary, Scotland and Spain). The average increase of 5.09 was statistically significant (p=0.019; 95% CI 0.96 to 9.22). Significance/Contribution to the field While a crude measurement tool, the Child Safety Report cards have become an accepted benchmarking tool and have proved to be an effective advocacy tool driving action toward evidence-based good practices.