Citation

Logan D, Fitzharris M, Fildes BN. Proc. Australas. Road Safety Res. Policing Educ. Conf. 2002; 6(1): 139-146.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2002, copyright holder varies, Publisher Monash University)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Australia's National Crash In Depth Study has been running for more than two years. Data relating to the participant's recall of crash events is collected via a structured interview, their medical records examined, their vehicle inspected and photographed and the crash scene inspected in detail. The case vehicles in the study comprise 48 percent 'Large' cars and 4WDs (or SUVs) and 39 percent 'small' cars, demonstrating the current polarisation of the vehicle market. Over 80 percent of the objects struck were other cars or trees and poles. Delta-V, an indication of crash severity, was more than 50 percent higher for rural compared with urban crashes. With respect to injuries, cases with injuries of MAIS2 or greater, chest and lower extremity injuries predominate for car-car crashes, while head, chest and injuries to the extremities were the most common for car-pole crashes. The study highlights that motor vehicle crashes are not only a function of the car and its occupants, but also the road environment and infrastructure play an integral role in both injury causation and outcome.