Variation in crash severity depending on different vehicle types and objects as collision partner

Abstract

The objective in this study of crashed cars fitted with on-board crash pulse recorders (CPR) was to present differences in average crash severity and distribution of crash severity, depending on collision partner. The investigation included both frontal and rear-end two-vehicle and single-vehicle crashes, into deformable and rigid roadside objects. In total, 544 real-world crashes involving cars fitted with CPRs were included. A difference in average crash severity was found in crashes with different collision partners. Frontal two-vehicle and single-vehicle crashes with rigid roadside objects were shown to generate the highest crash severity. In 22% of crashes with heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and 2% of car-to-car crashes, change of velocity exceeded 45 km/h. These differences indicate the importance of focusing on compatibility. There was a statistically significant difference between frontal two-vehicle and single-vehicle crashes with deformable objects, and also between single-vehicle crashes with deformable objects and single-vehicle crashes with rigid roadside objects. Of these, the least harmful crash type was single-vehicle crashes into deformable objects. This study provides further insight into how collision partners or objects influence change of velocity and mean acceleration in the studied vehicles. Furthermore, it illustrates the importance of paying attention to compatibility issues, regarding aspects influencing both change of velocity and acceleration.