Draft minutes of the 6th meeting of the EqOP Task Force 4 on 7 September 2026 with 33 participants. A technical expert from TUG presented findings on abdominal injuries, showing approximately 9% of injured occupants sustain such injuries, often among the most important alongside thorax, head, and upper extremity injuries, with sex- and age-related differences noted particularly among older female occupants. The group reviewed the progress dashboard, discussed the definition of robustness for the Japan Workshop in November 2026, and deferred the priority table and reading list to the next meeting scheduled for 21 October 2026.

This document presents an analysis of abdominal injuries in frontal crashes using data from CEDATU, the Central Database for In-Depth Accident Study in Austria. The study examined 1,348 cases with 2,570 occupants from accidents between 2003 and 2025, excluding vulnerable road users and crashes with more than two participants. Results show 9.3% of occupants sustained abdominal injuries, with frontal impacts accounting for 62.8% of cases. Liver and spleen injuries were most common, representing 33.8% and 31.9% respectively. Females sustained abdominal injuries more frequently with increasing age compared to males.

This document provides background material for an IWG EqOP workshop scheduled for November 2026 in Tokyo to draft conceptual ideas for assessing robustness of vehicles in frontal crashes using a holistic approach complementing current ATD-based requirements. The workshop aims to protect occupants of varying body height, weight, shape, and seating position by maintaining structural integrity and effective safety systems. Two sessions are planned: identifying issues needing solutions through field data and EqOP priorities from GRSP-78-07, and reviewing regulatory solutions including current regulations R16, R94, and R137, with consideration of ATD and HBM roles.

Workshop on frontal impact scheduled for Tokyo, Japan, 4-6 November 2026 will assess robustness, defined as the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants across variations in body height, weight, shape, and seating position in real-world collisions by maintaining structural integrity and effective safety systems. The workshop will explore conceptual ideas for procedures to assess robustness by complementing current specific requirements based on ATDs using a more holistic approach. Sessions will address issues requiring solution and regulatory solutions, including review of relevant regulations, clarification of roles of ATDs and HBMs, and conceptual ideas of future regulatory upgrades addressing brain injury, soft tissue neck injury, lower leg injury, thorax injury, submarining, abdominal loading injury, and lower severity collisions.

The agenda includes a progress-dashboard review, an updated study presentation on rear row and abdominal injuries, and preparation for a Japan Workshop in Tokyo in November 2026, covering priority table alignment, robustness definition and alignment, workshop agenda, pre-workshop preparation, and practical arrangements.