SAFETY OF CITY-CARS, CONFLICT BETWEEN ECOLOGY, ECONOMY, ROAD TRAFFIC BENEFITS AND SAFETY

This paper examines implications of the widespread introduction of a "City-only" compact car, using as examples the prototypes VW Chico and BMWE 1 (both compact cars suitable for city and rural areas) and the Concept study "City-only" car ERI-CAR II. Besides the obvious advantages in ecology, economy and traffic space, there are possibly additional safety advantages in lower accident frequency (lower acceleration), lower accident severity (lower velocity), and lower aggressiveness (lower masses). On the other hand these small and lightweight cars are more vulnerable especially in car-to-car crashes because of larger deformation/intrusions and higher speed variations/accelerations. Beside the lower level of "self- protection", there could arise disadvantages from the higher number of these cars overcompensating the space saving of the single subcompact car. For the covering abstract of the conference see IRRD 866319. (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03476030
• Corporate Authors:

  Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

  Linköping,   Sweden  SE-581 95

  VAEG- OCH TRANSPORTFORSKNINGSINSTUTET

  LINKOEPING,   Sweden  S-581 95
• Authors:
  • Appel, H
• Publication Date: 1992

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 87-109
• Serial:
  • VTI Rapport
  • Issue Number: 380A PT1
  • Publisher: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
  • ISSN: 0347-6030

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Conferences; Crash severity; Design; Economics; Environment; Hazards; Impact studies; Injury severity; Risk assessment; Safety; Size; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Characteristics
• ITRD Terms: 1243: Car; 8525: Conference; 9011: Design (overall design); 9014: Dimension; 255: Economics; 2455: Environment; 9112: Impact study; 5925: Properties; 9150: Risk; 1665: Safety; 1623: Severity (accid, injury); 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00668488
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Nov 16 1994 12:00AM