Driver mortality in paired side impact collisions due to incompatible vehicle types

Crandall, C. S.

Affiliations

¹Department of Emergency Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Abstract

Using a matched case control design, this study measured the mortality associated with paired passenger car-sport utility vehicle side impact (‘T-bone’) collisions using FARS data. Survival versus fatal outcome within the matched crash pairs was measured with matched pair odds ratios. Conditional logistic regression adjusted for multiple effects. Overall, passenger car drivers experienced greater mortality than did SUV drivers, regardless if they were in the struck or striking vehicle (odds ratio: 10.0; 95% confidence interval: 7.9, 12.5). Differential mortality persisted after adjustment for confounders. Efforts should be sought to improve passenger car side impact crashworthiness and to reduce SUV aggressivity.

Cited Works (2)

Year	Entry
2001	Summers SM, Prasad A, Hollowell WT. NHTSA’s research program for vehicle aggressivity and fleet compatibility. In: Proceedings of the 17th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 4-7, 2001; Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2001	Crandall CS, Olson LM, Sklar DP. Mortality reduction with air bag and seat belt use in head-on passenger car collisions. Am J Epidemiol. February 1, 2001;153(3):219-224.