NEW EVIDENCE CONCERNING FATAL CRASHES OF PASSENGER VEHICLES BEFORE AND AFTER ADDING ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEMS

Fatal crash rates for passenger cars and vans were compared for the last model year before four-wheel antilock brakes were introduced and the first model year for which antilock brakes were standard equipment. A prior study, based on fatal crash experience through 1995, reported that vehicle models with antilock brakes were more likely than identical but one-year-earlier models to be involved in crashes fatal to their own occupants, but were less likely to be involved in crashes fatal to occupants of other vehicles. Overall, there was no significant effect of antilocks on the likelihood of fatal crashes. Similar analyses, based on fatal crash experience during 1996-1998, yielded very different results. During 1996-1998, vehicles with antilock brakes were again less likely than earlier models to be involved in crashes fatal to occupants of other vehicles, but they were no longer overinvolved in crashes fatal to their own occupants.

• Corporate Authors:

  Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

  1005 North Glebe Road
  Arlington, VA  United States  22201
• Authors:
  • Farmer, C M
• Publication Date: 2000-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 13 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Antilock brake systems; Brakes; Fatalities; Passenger vehicles; Traffic crashes; Traffic safety; Vehicle occupants; Vehicle safety
• Uncontrolled Terms: Occupants of other vehicles
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00792179
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: May 14 2000 12:00AM