The relationship between vehicle crashworthiness and year of manufacture

This project investigated the relationship between vehicle crashworthiness and the year of manufacture of Australian vehicles, Crashworthiness is the ability of a vehicle to protect against injury in the event of a crash. The data covered 424,000 drivers involved in tow-away crashes in New South Wales during 1987-92, and 102,000 drivers injured in crashes in Victoria or New South Wales during the same period. Cars, station wagons and taxis manufactured during the years 1964 to 1992 were considered. The methods of analysis aimed to measure the crashworthiness of vehicles of each year of manufacture, after eliminating the influence of other key factors affecting the risk of injury which were also associated with vehicle year (driver age and sex, the speed limit at the crash location, and the number of vehicles involved). Crashworthiness was measured by the estimated risk of the driver being killed or admitted to hospital as the result of involvement in a tow-away crash. The findings provide clear evidence that the crashworthiness of passenger vehicles in Australia has improved over the years of manufacture from 1964 to 1992. The improvements have not been regular each year and showed the greatest gains over the years 1970 to 1979 during which a number of new Australian Design Rules aimed at occupant protection took effect. There was a 47% reduction in the risk of serious injury for drivers involved in tow-away crashes while driving the post-1979 vehicles compared with those manufactured during the 1960's.

• Corporate Authors:

  Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV)

  Noble Park, Victoria   
• Authors:
  • Cameron, M
  • Newstead, S V
  • Le, T
  • Finch, C F
• Publication Date: 1994-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 61p
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: TS 94/6

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash analysis; Crashworthiness; Injuries; Injury severity; Manufacturing; Mathematical models; Motor vehicle industry; Risk management; Vehicle design; Vehicle occupants; Vehicle safety
• ATRI Terms: Australian design rules; Crash analysis; Crashworthiness; Injury; Injury severity; Manufacture; Modelling; Risk; Vehicle design; Vehicle industry; Vehicle occupant; Vehicle safety
• Subject Areas: Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01434879
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 6:40PM