Vehicle Size and Risk of Side-Impact Collisions: A Case Control Study in Toronto and Montreal

Vehicle size has long been a concern in traffic crashes when examining the risks of injury to vehicle occupants. It has less frequently been examined as a risk factor for crashing in the first place. This report describes a case-control study of 61 side-impact crashes in Toronto and Montreal to see which vehicle characteristics are associated with crash risk. The crashes were part of the on-going Transport Canada project of detailed crash investigations of side-impact crashes. For each vehicle, observers returned to the site of the crash and identified four control vehicles traveling in the same direction as each of the two crashing vehicles. From the license numbers of these vehicles, the authors obtained the Vehicle Information Number (VIN) and thereby details of engine size, wheelbase, curb weight and other specifications of each vehicle. The paper used conditional logistic regression to compare crashing vehicles and their matched controls and estimate the odds of crashing as a function of vehicle characteristics; when required, separate odds were estimated for struck and striking vehicles. Several vehicle characteristics were associated with crash risk; however, many were significantly different for struck and striking vehicles. For example, engine size had increased odds of crashing as a striking vehicle (OR = 1.74 per 1000 cc.) but decreased odds of crashing as a target vehicle (OR = 0.72 per 1000 cc.). Safety factors, such as anti-lock brakes and traction control showed a substantial protective effect for both target and bullet vehicles. The explanation for these findings may relate to conspicuity; it may also relate to the ways vehicle size and power affect driver behavior at intersections and in other situations where traffic conflicts occur. The case-control method described in this study is relatively simple as well as economical. It is a useful method to evaluate road safety and vehicle characteristics without the need for large detailed databases maintained in many developed countries.

• Corporate Authors:

  Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI)

  Linköping,   Sweden  SE-581 95
• Authors:
  • Chipman, Mary
  • Lebovic, Gerald
  • Persaud, Bhagwant N
  • Bhim, Ravi
  • Gou, Michel
  • Dufort, Julien
• Conference:
  • Road Safety on Four Continents: 13th International Conference
  • Location: Warsaw , Poland
  • Date: 2005-10-5 to 2005-10-7
• Publication Date: 2005-10

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: CD-ROM
• Features: Maps; Tables;
• Pagination: 11p
• Monograph Title: Road Safety on Four Continents, Warsaw, Poland, 5-7 October 2005, Conference Proceedings

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Antilock brake systems; Case studies; Crash risk forecasting; Developed countries; Risk assessment; Side crashes; Traction control; Traffic safety; Vehicle characteristics; Vehicle size
• Geographic Terms: Montreal (Canada); Toronto (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I80: Accident Studies; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01090803
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 28 2008 8:16AM