A study of NMVCCS to identify critical pre-crash factors in fatal crashes

Mynatt, Mark; Bean, James; Kahane, Charles J.; Rush, Carla; Traube, Eric; Wiacek, Chris

Affiliations

¹National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, United States of America

Abstract

A NHTSA paper published in 2009, “Fatalities in Frontal Crashes Despite Seat Belts and Air Bags” [1] found that around 40% of crashes in a study of National Automotive Sampling System- Crashworthiness Data System (NASS-CDS) frontal fatal crashes with a belted occupant and frontal air bag were exceedingly severe. The paper concluded that once an occupant of a light vehicle is involved in a crash of this magnitude, chances for survival based on current crashworthiness practices are slim. Therefore, the most effective way to prevent fatalities of this type from occurring would be through avoiding or mitigating the severity of the crash.

To expand upon that analysis, the intent of this study is to identify and prioritize the factors involved in fatal crashes and assess the potential effectiveness of emerging or existing technologies that may have prevented or lessened the severity of the crash. The study was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of NHTSA crash investigators, engineers and a statistician who analyzed real-world fatal crashes found in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS).

NMVCCS was a nationally representative survey conducted by NHTSA from 2005-2007. Trained researchers conducted on-scene investigations on nearly 7,000 crashes during the project, focusing on the precrash phase of the crash. The ability to investigate the selected crashes on-scene, in most cases within minutes, allowed the researchers to make better assessments of the events that led up to the crash. The survey collected up to 300 data elements on the driver, vehicle, and environment. Important components of NMVCCS were based on a methodology originally outlined by Kenneth Perchonok [2], including coding of the critical event, critical reason, and the associated factors that were present at the time of the crash.

During this study the NHTSA team conducted indepth clinical analysis of each of the fatal crashes collected in NMVCCS, assigning the critical and secondary factors that led to the crash. The team also identified potential crash prevention measures at the driver, vehicle, and environmental levels. The results indicate that crash avoidance technologies including lane departure warning/lane keeping, ESC, alcohol detection, and auto/assisted braking could have been beneficial in preventing many of the fatalities.

Links

URL: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/esv/esv22/22ESV-000168.pdf

Cited Works (4)

Year	Entry
2009	Bean JD, Kahane CJ, Mynatt M, Rudd RW, Rush CJ, Wiacek C. Fatalities in Frontal Crashes Despite Seat Belts and Air Bags: Review of All CDS Cases: Model and Calendar Years 2000-2007: 122 Fatalities. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; September 2009. NHTSA Technical Report DOT HS 811 202.
2009	Rudd RW, Bean J, Cuentas C, Kahane CJ, Mynatt M, Wiacek C. A study of the factors affecting fatalities of air bag and belt-restrained occupants in frontal crashes. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2009	Kingsley KJ. Evaluating crash avoidance countermeasures using data from FMCSA/NHTSA’s large truck crash causation study. In: Proceedings of the 21st International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 15-18, 2009; Stuttgart, Germany.
2003	Toth GR, Radja GA, Thiriez KK, Carra JS. Large truck crash causation study in the United States. In: Proceedings of the 18th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). May 19-22, 2003; Nagoya, Japan.

Cited By (1)

Year	Entry
2017	Wiacek C, Fikentscher J, Forkenbrock G, Mynatt M, Smith P. Real-world analysis of fatal run-out-of-lane crashes using the national motor vehicle crash causation survey to assess lane keeping technologies. In: Proceedings of the 25th International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV). June 5-8, 2017; Detroit, MI.