DRIVER SURVEY OF LOW-SPEED, BUMPER-INVOLVED COLLISIONS. FINAL REPORT

This survey was designed to gather information among drivers so that low-speed collisions involving 5 MPH bumpers and post-1982 bumpers of lesser strength could be compared in terms of the following: the frequency of bumper incidents; the frequency and extent of damage resulting; inconvenience caused to the consumer as a result of damage to the car; and expenses incurred by the consumer for obtaining temporary transportation, when required. A total of 84,578 households were screened by telephone using random digit dialing procedures. Eligible vehicles (1981-84 cars) were located in 20,915 households. Among these households, it was discovered that 2,823 qualifying bumper incidents had occurred--1,952 during the initial survey and 871 additional incidents during the follow up survey. Both surveys covered four month periods. Among these, 1777 (62.9%) were not reported to insurance companies and 54.2% of the cars with 5 MPH bumpers resulted in damage; for the less than 5 MPH bumpers, 51.9% had damage. The difference was not statistically significant. Among incidents reported and not reported to insurance companies inconvenience to the driver/owner of a car damaged in a bumper incident was assessed using time spent at the collision scene, filling out forms, getting repair estimates, having the car repaired, as well as the time during which usage of the car was lost. No significant difference was found between owners of cars with 5 MPH and less than 5 MPH bumpers. The average time at the accident scene was 35 minutes; approximately 1 1/2 hours was spent filling out forms; about 4 hours was spent getting repair estimates; car repairs took about 1 1/2 days; and owners were without their cars about 2 days. Temporary transportation was sometimes necessary and about 16% used alternate transportation outside of their families. It was not possible to develop cost estimates associated with alternate transportation because few respondents were able to provide reliable data in this matter.

• Corporate Authors:

  Audits & Surveys, Incorporated

  29-A Emmons Drive
  Princeton, NJ  United States  08540

  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Publication Date: 1985-10

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 105 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bumpers; Costs; Crashes; Data collection; Design; Drivers; Loss and damage; Measures of effectiveness; Performance; Surveys; Traffic speed
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness; Low speed
• Subject Areas: Design; Finance; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00491269
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-806 979
• Contract Numbers: DTNH22-84-C-06007
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Feb 28 1990 12:00AM