Small trucks. vans and utility vehicles represent 38% of the current US. market In the designed vehicles of the early eighties manufacturer’s have ignored their full knowledge of the LTV’s different statistical accident history as compared to automobiles, and with a minimum of applicable safely regulation. produced and continue to produce. a much less safe vchiclc than is practical and economical.

To demonstrate how easy it would be to improve the safety of LTV's. the authors analyzed historical and current accident data bases, investigated and analyzed 11 accident case histories of a GM S-10 vehicle, determined the safety improvements needed, and chose simple and available subsyslcm design modificalions which maximized safely payoff.

The conclusion is that with small running design changes to the seating and restraint system weighing about 15 pounds, about 20 pounds of metal air gap padding and 15 pounds of composite structural foam filling of roof support sections;​ an estimated 25% reduction in HARM can be achieved, over and above the reductions resulting from increased restraint usage.