EVALUATION OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 301-75, FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY: PASSENGER CARS
To reduce the hazard caused by motor vehicle crash fires, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 301, Fuel System Integrity, was promulgated. Various vehicle modifications were made in response to the Standard, all intended to increase the crashworthiness of the fuel system. The objectives of this evaluation of Standard 301 are to estimate: (1) its effectiveness in reducing crash fires, injuries, and fatalities (2) the consumer cost of the Standard; (3) the cost-effectiveness of the Standard. The evaluation addresses the major version of the Standard (301-75) as it applies to passenger cars. The study is based on statistical analysis of crash fire data from five States, with primary emphasis given to data from the State of Michigan. Cost estimates are based on information obtained from the motor vehicle manufacturers. The study found that: (1) Standard 301 has significantly reduced post-crash fires in passenger car crashes; the greater reductions have occurred in the more severe crashes in terms of vehicle damage. (2) The reduction in crash fires has resulted annually in: 400 fewer fatalities, 520 fewer serious injuries, 110 fewer moderate injuries, and 6,500 fewer crash fires. (3) The Standard has increased the consumer cost of owning and operating a vehicle by $8.50.
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Corporate Authors:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Office of Program Development and Evaluation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Parsons, G G
- Publication Date: 1983-1
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 176 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automobiles; Consumers; Cost effectiveness; Crashworthiness; Fatalities; Fires; Fuel systems; Injuries; Measures of effectiveness; Reduction (Chemistry); Standards; Statistical analysis; Vehicle safety
- Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
- Old TRIS Terms: Reduction; Vehicular safety
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00371161
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: Tech Rpt., HS-806 335
- Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Mar 31 1983 12:00AM