FATAL FALLS AND JUMPS FROM MOTOR VEHICLES

In 1978, 345 persons were killed in the United States in jumps and falls from non-crashing motor vehicles: 64 percent jumped; and it was not known whether the other 21 percent jumped or fell. Two hundred and one people had been traveling on the exterior of vehicles, especially truck beds, and almost all of these people fell from their vehicles. The other 144 fatalities involved people in passenger compartments. Many of the falls from compartments occurred when occupants opened doors, or when vehicles changed direction. Seventy-seven percent of those who fell from passenger compartments were males, and 44 percent were less than five years old. Among those who jumped from vehicle compartments, 62 percent were women and all were older than 14 years. Fatal falls and jumps from vehicles could be reduced in a variety of ways. These include legislation to prohibit travel in vehicle exteriors, designing vehicles so that doors cannot be opened when in motion, improving door designs, installing signals that provide warning if doors are not closed completely, and using occupant restraints. (Author)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00900036
• Corporate Authors:

  American Public Health Association

  1740 Broadway
  New York, NY  United States  10019
• Authors:
  • Williams, A F
  • Goins, S E
• Publication Date: 1981-3

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 275-279
• Serial:
  • American Journal of Public Health
  • Volume: 71
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Public Health Association
  • ISSN: 0090-0036
  • EISSN: 1541-0048
  • Serial URL: http://ajph.aphapublications.org/loi/ajph

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fatalities; Injuries; Traffic crashes
• Uncontrolled Terms: Motor vehicle accidents
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00331743
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Safety Council Safety Research Info Serv
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-032 277
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 15 1981 12:00AM