STATISTICAL EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 108: SIDE MARKER LAMPS (ONLY)

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of FMVSS 108 side marker lamp requirements in reducting the frequency of angle collision accidents occurring during periods of reduced visibility. This required an analysis of subsets of mass accident data consisting of side collisions between two passenger vehicles approaching at an angle, occurring either at an intersection or driveway access. Evaluative statistics were based upon 98,811 accidents in Texas (1972, 1973 and 1974), 17,566 accidents in New York (1974), and 19,709 accidents in Noth Carolina (1973, 1974 and 1975). Contingency table data were subjected to log-linear modeling and adjustment to minimize potential confounding effects and to allow for direct comparison of angle collision frequencies between various lighting conditions and Pre- and Post-Standard configurations of vehicles. Single vehicle accidents were used as a control group to compensate for potentially different reduced light exposure risks for Pre- and Post-Standard passenger vehicles.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • See also report No. 3, PB81-152217.
• Corporate Authors:

  Center for the Environment and Man, Incorporated

  275 Windsor Street
  Hartford, CT  United States  06120

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Knoop, J C
  • Ball, J T
  • Northrop, G M
• Publication Date: 1980-10

Media Info

• Pagination: 114 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injury research; Crash rates; Crashes; Lamps; Mathematical models; Measures of effectiveness; Research; Safety equipment; Side crashes; Signal face; Standards; Statistical analysis; Traffic crashes; Vehicle safety; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Models; Motor vehicle accidents
• Old TRIS Terms: Side marker lamps; Vehicular safety
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I81: Accident Statistics; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00329011
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CEM-4254-672 Final Rpt., HS-805 657
• Contract Numbers: DOT-HS-8-02014
• Files: HSL, NTIS, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: May 21 1982 12:00AM