This assesses the effect of anti-lock brake systems (ABS) on driver injury risk and injury severity through analysis of real crash outcomes reported by Police in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Information on the presence or absence of ABS on crashed vehicles was provided by participating vehicle manufacturers and matched to the Police reported crash data. The statistical analysis examined the effectiveness of ABS in terms of both primary and secondary safety. ABS braking systems were generally found to have no statistically significant effects on secondary safety outcomes. In terms of primary safety, changes in the distribution of crash type for ABS equipped vehicles were detected as were changes in absolute risk for certain crash types. Vehicles fitted with ABS had lower risk of crashing with other vehicles. However, a higher risk of run of road type crashes for ABS equipped resulted in a net zero change in risk across all crash types. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E211985.
Abstract