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Vehicle Crashworthiness:
Roof Caving
| Side Impact
| Bumper
Height
Vehicle crashworthiness means ensuring driver
and passenger safety in the event of an accident through
sound structure of the vehicle. Rollovers account
for one-third of occupant fatalities and one-fourth
of all auto-related fatalities annually. Fatality Analysis
Reporting System (FARS) data reveal that 10,149 people
were killed in rollover crashes in light vehicles in
1999, or one-third of all vehicle occupant fatalities
for that year.
There should be few deaths from rollovers because the
forces applied to occupants during the collision are
far lower than those experienced in other types of crashes.
The fact that rollovers contribute to so many deaths
indicates that the vehicles are designed poorly and
are not crashworthy. Safety belts and seat structures
are not made to keep occupants in place during a crash,
and vehicle roofs are so flimsy that when they absorb
the full weight of the car, they crush into occupants’
heads and spines, inflicting serious injuries. In rollover
crashes, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) are particularly
deadly due to their heavy weight and boxy design.
In 1994, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) terminated work on a rollover prevention standard
by promising that a series of improvements in rollover
crashworthiness and consumer information were forthcoming.
These promised improvements included advanced window
glazing to prevent ejections and incentives to increase
the use of seat belts. The agency also promised stronger
roofs and has made additional promises in subsequent
public statements about requiring improvements in door
latches and hinges and upper side impact protection.
None of the promised regulations on rollover crashworthiness
have been issued. This record is particularly shocking
in light of the explosion in the numbers of light trucks
and SUVs on the roads. These vehicles now comprise more
than half of all new vehicle sales.
The NHTSA must improve rollover crashworthiness by
providing a standard for roof crush to protect vehicle
occupants. Additionally, seat belts that tighten in
rollovers, roof structures equipped with interior energy
absorbing materials, advanced window glazing and side
curtain air bags, and improved seat structure and belt
placement are all needed.
If you or a loved one were injured
in an accident, your injuries may be due to a defective
or unsafe vehicle. Contact our accident lawyers today
for a free and confidential case evaluation. Our experienced
attorneys analyze car accidents to determine whether
the vehicle was crashworthy.
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