EFFECTS OF RECENT VEHICLE DESIGN CHANGES ON SAFETY PERFORMANCE. VOLUME I

Design changes in 1974-1977 model year passenger cars have been identified and a preliminary evaluation has been made of the safety effects of design changes inspired by fuel economy requirements. The 1977 General Motors full-size cars and the Volkswagen Rabbit were found to be the only significant design change vehicles. These vehicles do not demonstrate significantly higher risks of fatality in accidents than do other vehicles of similar weight or roominess. Little change is observed in the aggregate characteristics of the 1974-1977 vehicle fleets, although the effects of the 1977 General Motors downsizing are observable. Methodologies have been implemented for the identification of vehicle design changes, for the calculation of observed fatality rates by make and model, and for the projection of future fatality and injury experience based on perceived trends in vehicle design and sales.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • For summary report, see HS-805 377, Vol 2 is HS-805 379.
• Corporate Authors:

  Kinetic Research

  55 Depot Road
  Goleta, CA  United States  93117

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Redmond, D
  • Schmitz, B
  • Friedman, K
• Publication Date: 1979-3

Media Info

• Pagination: 179 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crash severity; Design; Evaluation; Fatalities; Fuel consumption; Hazards; Injuries; Passenger vehicles; Risk assessment; Safety; Specifications; Vehicle design; Vehicle performance; Vehicle safety; Weight
• Uncontrolled Terms: Requirement
• Old TRIS Terms: Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00318464
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: KR-TR-032-VOL-1 Final Rpt., HS-805 378
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-7-01759
• Files: HSL, NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 8 1982 12:00AM