Citation

Richardson SA, Rechnitzer G, Grzebieta RH, Hoareau E. Int. J. Crashworthiness 2003; 8(1): 63-72.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In the USA light vehicle rollovers represent about 2% of the total vehicle crashes. However, rollovers kill significant numbers of people each year. It is the second most fatal crash mode following frontal crashes. More people in the USA are killed by rollovers than side impacts. The low percentage of occurrences and high rate of fatalities makes rollover the most fatal of all possible crash modes. The National Highway Transport Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been consistently exploring the issues relating to rollover. NHTSA have implemented a star rating system to inform consumers of the rollover propensity of vehicles as part of the New Car Assessment Program. The NHTSA propensity rating is based on the Stability Factor. Recent work by Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) for the Victorian Police Force resulted in range of vehicle functional performance criteria being developed. A criterion relating handling and Stability Factor is proposed. There is sufficient evidence to support the contention that Stability Factor and the rate of "real world rollovers" is linked. It is the contention of the authors that the "noise" (scatter) within the Stability Factor data is due to vehicle handling. This paper proposes a methodology that allows the combination of the Stability Factor and handling characteristic to predict the probability of rollover per single vehicle crash.

Language: en