Driver’s instinctive response and it’s influence of lower extremity injury

Abstract

Instinctive response was produced for protecting drivers from injury when facing incoming collisions. For better understanding it’s influence of lower extremity injury, this study proposed an approach to analyze the collision injury considering the instinctive response posture and musculoskeletal characteristics. 20 male drivers were recruited for an instinctive response test in driving simulator and their lower extremity postures and muscle activation of 8 major ones at the collision moment were collected. The difference between different postures and muscles were analyzed and their influence on injuries were investigated by collision simulation. Results showed that increased possibility for the right leg holding on the air or even on the accelerator pedal with increased emergency level at the collision moment. Significant difference existed in different muscles between different postures. The introduction of instinctive response changed the driving posture and musculoskeletal characteristics, which further influence the lower extremity injury. This study help understanding the accurate behavioral and injury procedure and providing support for design a better restraint systems.