Trends in crashworthiness of the New Zealand vehicle fleet by year of manufacture: 1964 to 2016

This project further investigated the relationship between vehicle crashworthiness and both the year of manufacture and the year of first registration in New Zealand. Analysis was based on New Zealand light passenger vehicles manufactured from 1964 to 2016 and crashing during 1991 to 2016. Analysis by year of first registration in New Zealand was aimed at assessing crashworthiness trends in the fleet of used imported vehicles in New Zealand whilst analysis by year of manufacture examined trends in the fleet as a whole. Crashworthiness was measured by a combination of injury severity (of injured drivers) and injury risk (of drivers involved in crashes). Analysis of trends by year of vehicle manufacture showed statistically significant improvement in the crashworthiness of New Zealand light passenger vehicles over the years of manufacture studied. The most rapid improvement occurred over the years of manufacture from 1983 to 2008. Over this period, the risk of death or serious injury to drivers reduced by over 77.9% for the fleet as a whole. During this period vehicle safety in New Zealand was affected by several competing effects: a general increase in both active and passive safety features in vehicles; increasing proportions of used imported vehicles entering the New Zealand fleet; and increases in the regulation of vehicle safety standards by the New Zealand Government. Estimates of crashworthiness trends in the used import vehicle fleet by year of first registration in New Zealand from 1986 to 2016 showed improved crashworthiness of the used import fleet over these years. A differential in apparent safety between the new and used imported vehicles was identified along with a suggestions of worsening crashworthiness for new vehicles sold in recent years and continues to need careful monitoring.

• Record URL:
  http://www.monash.edu/muarc/research/our-publications
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/9781925413052
• Corporate Authors:

  Monash University. Accident Research Centre (MUARC)

  Monash University Accident Research Centre, Building 70, Monash University, Victoria, 3800, Australia
  Clayton, Victoria   
• Authors:
  • Newstead, S V
  • Watson, L M
  • Cameron, M H
  • Rampollard, C L
• Publication Date: 2018-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 35p + appendices
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 335

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age; Crash analysis; Crash data; Crashes; Crashworthiness; Deformation; Injury severity; Police; Risk assessment; Vehicle occupants; Vehicle safety
• Geographic Terms: New Zealand
• ATRI Terms: Age; Crash analysis; Crashworthiness; Injury severity; Risk assessment; Vehicle occupant; Vehicle safety
• ITRD Terms: 6471: Analysis (math); 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 1445: Vehicle safety device
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01684187
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 9781925413052
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Oct 25 2018 11:34AM