Belted driver fatalities in frontal crashes in 2017-2023 CISS

The drivers were typically alone, obese and older. Most vehicles were older; they typically moved left (75%) into an oncoming vehicle or off road hitting a tree or pole. The combination of collision severity and driver BMI pulled webbing from the load-limiting retractor (when equipped), compressed the airbag and deformed the steering wheel resulting in severe chest injuries (85.7%). The restraints allowed too much excursion into the steering system to protect the drivers. NHTSA's 90 km/h oblique OMDB test involves 4,516 ± 535 J of upper body energy and 57.6 ± 6.8 cm crush. It is not severe enough to bring about meaningful changes in vehicle structures or restraints. A 113 km/h OMDB impact has upper body energy consistent with the fatal crashes, but further testing is needed to determine if a higher speed OMDB test is useful. A 72 km/h (45 mph) sled test with the 95^th or 82 km/h (51 mph) with the 50^th dummy would be useful because it has upper body kinetic energy to bring about meaningful design changes to reduce driver fatalities.