TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS CAUSING PETROL FIRES IN VEHICLES 1969-71

TRAFIKOLYCKOR MED BESINBRAENDER I BILAR 1969-71

A TOTAL OF 79 PASSENGER CAR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING PETROL FIRES FROM THE 1ST OF JANUARY 1969 TO THE 31ST OF DECEMBER 1971, WAS STUDIED. THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION WAS TO STUDY THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL TANK IN THE CAR, (FRONT TANK CARS OR REAR TANK CARS), AND THE RISK OF PETROL FIRE. A SPECIAL STUDY WAS MADE OF THE VOLKSWAGEN CARS. THE RESULTS ARE COMPARED WITH PREVIOUS STUDIES OF PETROL FIRES IN CARS, STARTING IN 1966. THE ACCIDENTS WERE INVESTIGATED WITH REGARD TO: TYPE OF CAR, ACCIDENT TYPE, TIME OF YEAR, SEVERITY OF INJURIES AND CAUSE OF FIRE. THIS STUDY CONFIRMS PREVIOUS INVESTIGATION RESULTS, THAT FRONT TANK CARS ARE OVERREPRESENTED IN ACCIDENTS WITH PETROL FIRES, COMPARED TO THEIR TOTAL NUMBER OF CARS (IN SWEDEN). AS FOR THE VOLKSWAGEN CARS THEIR RELATIVE SHARE HAS REMAINED CONSTANT OR DECREASED SLIGHTLY, PROBABLY DUE TO AN IMPROVED TANK INSTALLATION. THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS CAUSING SEVERE INJURIES AND FATAL BURNS WERE CONSIDERABLY LARGER FOR FRONT TANK CARS THAN FOR REAR TANK CARS.

• Corporate Authors:

  Swedish National Road and Traffic Research Institute

  Drottning Kristinas Vaeg 25
  S-11428 Stockholm,   Sweden 
• Authors:
  • Raangtell, H
• Publication Date: 1973

Language

• Swedish

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 21 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crash investigation; Crash rates; Crashes; Fires; Fuel tanks; Fuels; Gasoline; Location; Position fixing; Time; Vehicle rear end
• Uncontrolled Terms: Front; Position; Rear
• Geographic Terms: Sweden
• ITRD Terms: 1272: Bus; 632: Congestion (traffic); 8028: Denmark; 8125: Germany; 8053: Japan; 341: Pedestrian precinct; 143: Planning; 350: Segregation (traffic, pedestrians); 8109: Sweden; 311: Town centre; 654: Traffic control; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I81: Accident Statistics; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00083749
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Report/Paper Numbers: No. 23 R&D Rpt.
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 8 1975 12:00AM