Citation

Dean ME, Lubbe N, Fredriksson R, Sternlund S, Gabler HC. Accid. Anal. Prev. 2023; 190: e107151.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.aap.2023.107151

PMID

37311394

Abstract

Vision Zero is an approach to road safety that aims to eliminate all traffic-induced fatalities and lifelong injuries. To reach this goal, a multi-faceted safe system approach must be implemented to anticipate and minimize the risk associated with human mistakes. One aspect of a safe system is choosing speed limits that keep occupants within human biomechanical limits in a crash scenario. The objective of this study was to relate impact speed and maximum delta-v to risk of passenger vehicle (passenger cars and light trucks and vans) occupants sustaining a moderate to fatal injury (MAIS2+F) in three crash modes: head-on vehicle-vehicle, frontal vehicle-barrier, and front-to-side vehicle-vehicle crashes. Data was extracted from the Crash Investigation Sampling System, and logistic regression was used to construct the injury prediction models. Impact speed was a statistically significant predictor in head-on crashes, but was not a statistically significant predictor in vehicle-barrier or front-to-side crashes. Maximum delta-v was a statistically significant predictor in all three crash modes. A head-on impact speed of 62 km/h yielded 50% (±27%) risk of moderate to fatal injury for occupants at least 65 years old. A head-on impact speed of 82 km/h yielded 50% (±31%) risk of moderate to fatal injury for occupants younger than 65 years. Compared to the impact speeds, the maximum delta-v values yielding the same level of risk were lower within the head-on crash population. A head-on delta-v of 40 km/h yielded 50% (±21%) risk of moderate to fatal injury for occupants at least 65 years old. A head-on delta-v of 65 km/h yielded 50% (±33%) risk of moderate to fatal injury for occupants younger than 65 years. A maximum delta-v value of approximately 30 km/h yielded 50% (±42%) risk of MAIS2+F injury for passenger car occupants in vehicle-vehicle front-to-side crashes. A maximum delta-v value of approximately 44 km/h yielded 50% (±24%) risk of MAIS2+F injury for light truck and van occupants, respectively, in vehicle-vehicle front-to-side crashes.

Language: en

Keywords

Event data recorder; Impact speed; Injury risk function; Safe system; Vision zero