This paper examines the crash involvement and occupant safety record of sport utility vehicles (SUV's) in comparison with those of cars, vans, and pickups. The investigation is based on the crash experience of the cited vehicles on the US roads, from 1988 to 1996, as compiled in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA's) records. Crash exposure factors that have a major influence on the injury outcome include: crash severity, age of occupants, belt use, rollover rates, and ejection rates. The rate of seriously or fatally injured occupants per I00 involved in tow-away crashes is used in the study to assess the relative injury risk for different classes of vehicles.
Samenvatting