THE USE OF ACCIDENT DATA IN STUDYING VEHICLE HANDLING PERFORMANCE

This study establishes the relation between vehicle handling performance and accident causation. Since deficiencies in handling are likely to be associated with accidents involving loss of control, measures of handling which are likely to express proneness to loss of control are first suggested; emphasis is placed on simplicity of measurement to allow as many different models of cars as possible to be included in the study. Accident rates for the various types of accidents which are likely to be influenced by these parameters are then determined by model of car. The effect of other factors, such as variation in driver characteristics between different models of cars on these rates is then assessed so that the relation between handling characteristics and accident frequency can be defined. Finally, the relative importance of the various measures of handling suggested are assessed. The results suggest that there is a definite relation between handling performance and accident causation; although it is relatively small when compared to driver effects. In explaining the variation in the accident rate between different models of cars, driver effects account for as much as 70 per cent; if driver effects are removed from the accident rate then handling parameters explain between 35 and 40 per cent of the remaining variation between modles of cars. The important parameters appear to be weight, a measure of the change in understeer as a function of lateral acceleration and power to weight ratio.(a) /TRRL/

• Corporate Authors:

  Institution of Mechanical Engineers

  1 Birdcage Walk
  London SW1H 9JJ,   England 
• Authors:
  • Jones, I S
• Conference:
  • Institution of Mechanical Engineers Proceedings
• Publication Date: 1975

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 243-258
• Serial:
  • Volume: 189
  • Issue Number: 39/7

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Automobiles by type; Crash causes; Crash rates; Crashes; Drivers; Driving; Gross vehicle weight; Handling characteristics; Human characteristics; Steering
• Uncontrolled Terms: Driver characteristics; Handling; Vehicle make
• ITRD Terms: 1643: Accident; 1612: Accident rate; 1243: Car; 1834: Steering (process); 1646: Vehicle handling
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I80: Accident Studies; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149103
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: Analytic
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 20 1977 12:00AM