VEHICLE WEIGHT, FATALITY RISK AND CRASH COMPATIBILITY OF MODEL YEAR 1991-99 PASSENGER CARS AND LIGHT TRUCKS
Logistic regressions calibrate crash fatality rates per billion miles for model year 1991-99 passenger cars, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and vans during calendar years 1995-2000 - by vehicle weight, vehicle type, driver age and gender, urban/rural, and other vehicle, driver and environmental factors - a cross-sectional analysis of the fatality rates of existing vehicles. These analyses suggest that, after controlling for driver age/gender, urban/rural, annual mileage, and other factors: (a) The association between vehicle weight and overall crash fatality rates in the heavier Model Year (MY) 1991-99 LTVs (light trucks and vans) was not significant; (b) In three other groups of MY 1991-99 vehicles - the lighter LTVs, the heavier cars, and especially the lighter cars - fatality rates increased as weights decreased; and (c) MY 1996-99 pickup trucks and SUVs had, on the average, higher fatality rates than MY 1996-99 passenger cars or minivans of comparable weight. Logistic regression analyses of fatalities per billion miles in two-vehicle collisions show that MY 1991-99 LTVs were more aggressive than MY 1991-99 cars when they struck other vehicles. The analyses show correlations between occupants' fatality risk in the struck car and the frontal height-of-force and rigidity of the striking LTV.
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
National Program Evaluation Division, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Kahane, C J
- Publication Date: 2003-10
Language
- English
Media Info
- Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 334 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Age; Automobiles; Crashes; Drivers; Fatalities; Gender; Light trucks; Pickup trucks; Regression analysis; Risk assessment; Rural areas; Sport utility vehicles; Urban areas; Vans; Vehicle classification; Vehicle miles of travel; Vehicle weight
- Uncontrolled Terms: Vehicle aggressiveness
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00964952
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-809 662,, NHTSA Technical Report
- Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
- Created Date: Oct 27 2003 12:00AM