Review of the fatality risk curve for head-on car-to-car crashes

Cross over head-on crashes are one of the most dangerous crash modes. These crashes typically occur on roads without median road safety barriers, and higher speeds can exacerbate the chance of fatal injury. The widely cited Wramborg risk curve for a head-on collision estimates a 10 percent probability of a fatality at an impact speed of 70 km/h, and this figure is used by most developed nations to set safe speed limits on roads with no median barriers. However, Wramborg does not provide any evidentiary basis to this value. A literature review has identified a wide variation in the impact speed for a 10 percent probability of a fatal head-on crash, ranging from 50 km/h to 69 km/h. Consequently, given the large speed variation from prior studies, it was decided to carry out a systematic review using quantitative studies based on real world crashes, and report on that study here.

• Record URL:
  • https://doi.org/10.33492/ARSC-2023
• Record URL:
  • https://australasianroadsafetyconference.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2023_ARSC_Full-Proceedings.pdf
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Extended abstract (researcher)
• Authors:
  • Ayuningtyas, K
  • Caponecchia, C
  • Grzebieta, R
  • Olivier, J
• Conference:
  • Australasian Road Safety Conference, 2023, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2023-9

Media Info

• Pagination: 64-66

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fatalities; Frontal crashes; Guardrails; Literature reviews; Risk assessment; Speed limits
• ATRI Terms: Fatality; Head on crash; Literature review; Safety fence; Speed limit
• ITRD Terms: 1602: Fatality; 1640: Head on collision; 1686: Safety fence
• Subject Areas: I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01930900
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB Group Limited
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Sep 17 2024 2:46PM