or Worse - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Transcription
or Worse - Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Death Rates Vary Among Cars by More Than 800 Percent Many Cars Perform Better (or Worse) Than Predicted Occupant deaths occur far mOTe often in some cars than in others. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers computed death rates for 1984-88 model cars during calendar years 1985-89 and found that, among 134 series, the one with the lowest death rate was Volvo's 240 station wagon with 0.5 deaths lor each 10,000 of these cars registered. The highest rate? Chevrolet's Corvette Coupe, a small sports car (4.7 per 10,000). The Corvette's death rate was more than 9Urnes as high as the Volvo's (see table, pages 4-5). For each car series, rates were compUled lrom the total number of occupant deaths and registrations in the 5 calendar years, 1985-89. (A car series is a family Actual death rates for individual car series tell only part of the story (see Death Rates Vary Among Cars by More Than 800 Percent) because they're influenced by the age and sex of the people who drive them, as well as by the size of the cars. So Insurance Institute for Highway Safety researchers computed lor each of 134 popular car series a predicted as well as an actual death rate, with the predicted rate taking into account three important lactors influencing the actual death rate. The researchers developed a regression model that relates actual death rates to car size, driver age, and driver sex. Because vehicle registration information cannot be broken down by owner age or sex, the researchers' model uses inlonnation about the drivers who were involved in the fatal crashes. Specifically, the researchers estimated a nonlinear relationship between the death rates of individual vehicle series and their wheelbases, the proportion of occupant deaths thai occurred with drivers under 30 years old, and the proportion of male drivers. (A detailed explanation 01 the research methods is available lrom the Institute on request.) From this model, the researchers computed a predicted death rate for each car series using ils actual wheelbase, proportion of young drivers, and proportion of (See Better or ROne, p. 3) within a make with the same wheelbase and a degree of commonality in construction such as body, chassis, etc.) Results for 1984-88 series are presented only lor those with at least 150,000 registrations during 1985-89 (1989 model cars aren't included because registrations are counted midyear when new cars are still being sold). Results for all cars and for each car size{body style group were computed from death and registration counts lor all car series, regardless of numbers registered. Car size is an important influencing lactor on death rates. 01 the 14 vehicle series with the lowest death rates,S are large, and 7are midsize. Only 2are small. Nine of (See 800% Voriation, p. 2) -_ _ ._ _ _. Thi••peelai marn the .econ .titute for Hi, ti.hed pallen,e per 10,000 regUl car mde and on-lhe-road deat And, in thi. repa .erie. are inclu the rate. were re .tead of]03. The include. more hence lell expol --_ .. - --- _ _ • _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ year. ._-------_ .. - ---- ---- --_ f Statu. Report he In.urance Inafety hal pubcupant death. .. by indl.ldual ele are actual, not test re.ult.. ,olleager car n the nflt time - ]34 terles in· n page. 4 and 5 th lower .ale., _ _ _ • _ _ h _ _ _ ---_ • _ • 2-IIHS Slaws Report, Vol. 26, No.4, April 13, 1991 800% Variation (Cont'd from p. I) the 13 cars with the highest death rates are small. The other 4are midsize. None is large. Large station wagons, large two-door cars, and large luxury cars are the groups with the fewest deaths per 10,000 registered cars. The group with the highest number of deaths per 10,000 registrations is midsize slXlrts cars. Death rates vary nol only by car size but also within size and body style groups. Among small four.(Joor cars, lor example, the Saab 900 had the lowest rale (0.6). The rale for the fouHloor Chevrolet Sprint, was more lhan I times as high (4.5). The mix of occupant deaths between sin· gle- and multiple-vehicle crashes varied considerably, 100, with small cars usually having higher proportions of deaths in single-vehicle crashes than large cars. Chevrolet's Corvette Coupe had the highest proportion 01 singlevehicle crash deaths (83 percent) among all 134 cars. Buick's Century two-door and Electra station wagon had the lowest (13 percent). Another important influence on death rales, besides car size, is driver age. Cars with high percentages of fatakrash-involved drivers who are under 30 years old tended to have higher death rates. The sex of the driver is important, too. Cars with high percentages of female drivers tended to have lower rates (see table, pages 6-7). These three factors - car size, driver age and sex - explain some differences in death rates among cars. But they don't explain them all. Volkswagen's Cabriolet/Rabbit convertible, lor example, had a relatively low death rate (1.3), even though it's small and had a relatively high percentage 01 drivers under 30 (71 percent). Still another influencing factor involves the presence or absence of automatic restraints. Most 01 the 134 car series were not equipped with automatic restraints during 1984-88, but all 1990 and later models 01 the same cars (not passenger vans) do have such restraints. Death rates lor the newer models equipped with air bags can be expected to be lower than the rates shown lor corresponding 1984.s8 models. The cars included in the study range from one to live years old and, within that age range, the older cars had only slightly lower death rates than the newer cars. To account lor the effects of car size and driver age and sex, Institute researchers computed a predicted death rate lor each car series. Then they compared predicted and actual rales (see Many Cars Perlorm Bellet (or Worse) Than Predicted, page I). lIHS Status Report, Vol. 26, No.4, April 13, 1991-3 _ 1 1•.)90 95 100 Better or Worse (Ca.t'd from p. I) male drivers. What's especially interesting are the differences that the Institute's researchers found between individual car series' predicted and actual death rales. This comparison tells us how much better or worse each of the car series performed than we would have expected, given the car's size and the age and the sex of the drivers who were in its fatal crashes. Among the 134 vehicle series lor which Institute researchers computed actual and predicted occupant death rates, 81 series (I9~ models) performed betler than predicted during calendar years 1985-89. Forty-lour car series performed worse than predicted, and 9 had actual oc- cupant death rates that match their predicted rates. lblvo's 241) station wagon (above) had the lowest occupant death rate among all 1984-88 model cars studied. Chevrolet's Coruette Coupe had the highest occupant death rate. Some of the 134 car series performed much better than predicted after taking into account vehicle size and the age and sex of the drivers: Saab 900 !ourdoor, Nissan Pulsar, Volvo 240 station wagon, Volkswagen Vanagon, Volvo 740/760 lour· door, Volkswagen Cabriolet/Rabbit convertible, Honda Accord two-door, and Volkswagen Jetta lour-door. The following 13 cars per· lormed much worse than predicted: Chevrolet Sprint four-door, Dodge Aries lour-door, Oldsmobile Delta 88lour-door, Chevrolet Celebrity two-door, Chevrolet Sprint two-door, Plymouth Re· liant two-door, Buick LeSabre lour-door, Dodge Aries two-door, Plymouth Reliant lour·door, Dodge Aries station wagon, Chevrolet Caprice/Impala lourdoor, Plymouth Horizon lourdoor, and Chevrolet Monte Carlo. 4-IJJ/S SlaIUS Repon, Ibl 26. No. 4, ApriI/3. 1991 ---.. -..,. - -"'. S ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... U ~ """"""'- """"-' ~1>....... -.... .... ........ ~Grn I"-quII Oadgec....... Ford Crown v_ M~ M~ M~ e """'" Ik.w:l< Electr. , GMC Sal.-l Vall .~ U M·" ..... MIDSIZE M·" M·" M·" M·" M·" ChrMlIel AItro Van ~vo2"ll Foo:l Taurus Buicl< CenlWf """llac 6000 c~Ce~ .... -.... .... .... .... ........ -_ .. · ,-.......... .... ..... ..... Clldam:lbIlt C~I Cletil """"~nE. Plymc>ulh ReII.rn M~ - ' - '.wo - M~ ~c.val" U M~ M~ • S7..fl8 ..... ..... 5ubaru DIJGl. ToycU T«OIl awo Torch V.., --""'" ""' U M~ "'-aIry 0._ " " ' - ~ Ninery-Eoghl ""''''''''''-. ........... ~c. • 87-88 ,,~ ·.. • IIHIlI U M~ ~ _ -'" '" Toyotl CfeuiISa Toyota Canvy ..... ...... ....... .........""' .... • 87..e8 M~ M~ ~ ~ Oldsmot>iit Fnn~. .. ... ~ ,,~ Ford T....' .... Chl}'Mor l.BarOtl GTS NIssM Sl.nll ~ M~ M~ M~ • _e..-""* _ -"" --CIdibc:C-.on """'" """..... ... ..... c_""""" .... ..... ..... ..... ...... ....... ..... ...... .... .... ..... ..... .... ..... ..... M·" M·" M~ ,,~ • ChfyMr New yotlc"IE Ila;lyJ 0lc!ImcItlM Cull... c..ra C...... ~ C_e-. -----"" -"' " -"" .... -INIII ~ U e-eo._ ,,~ _m s...t.u OUGl s.o.n M~ .~ • 874 M" ..... ..... ChevfoleI New. FOtd ESCOll Plymoolh Hanzon ~Ildal E.o»I/MItIubialli PI.ei. Che'tfollll Speclrum ChlMolet SjlrInl ,"".. "" ",." ,.,"" ... "••• " ,." . .," ,.,••• ,., " " '" ..", "" "••• ,,."'".. ,"" .. U U U U .. '.' ,,. " " " " " " " ...,., ,,.,".. >0 >0 " ,. ,.'" ,. ,. U "",.. ••• "" "'" ,., ,., ,., ....."", 1 $ """ ..,.,"" ,., " ActuIIl DttI. "'- PNdIctM "'" "" "" "" "" "" "" "" ~ ~ "" "" , '" .. '"" ,,.,"".. ." ..", '" .." " " ,.... ,." ,~ U >0 ... "...... .., ...",.,,., ...'"" ......" " ,.,..."" ,,".... ,.,",., ,.," ... "" u" ,...,.,", ,. ,." ,,."".. ... ,....,.," "., ,,".... "'" '"., "" ~, "" "" '" " " ", " ", "'" "" "" '" "" "" "'" "" ,~ '"."" '".- '" '" ", "" "" '" '" ,~ .- ,~ "" '" ""' ." ~ '" '" "'" '" "" '" '" '" ., ,,,." "" .- ." UHS SIaIus Report, IiJI. 26, No. 4, Apri11~ 1991-,5 1984-88 Models During 1985-89, by Car SIze and Body Style --......,. ,.... u u .........., .... _ - . .... ..... ..... ... """'""""" ..... ..... ...... ... ""..... ..... ..... ... ...... ..... ....... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... -,.... "'*"'"""'", ""* .... " ... ...... ..... ,,,............. " ... ..... ..... ........ ...... .............. ...... ..... "'"""" ..... ............. "..... "11(.. .... ....... ......... " • 87·M . ~eus-c... -_..--"'--" -__....-- ,,.... " '-' ,-", • llHlll Ponbac: Grand Am _ _ _ e- _ u 87·. O> .. eo- ClotrdIl. ee- TII'1OI& T-.l _CoO ..... CoO "",." • 87·" u ,~ Hylrocl8o bcIl.~ Pf-. L.InooIn Town c. Me<oIdft SDUSEL 5ef1es C8dIIac~20 ~ 28O£J3OOD'E ~~Ie40 ~ ............. ......... s.r_ .... .................. ...... ............. .......... ............. -,.... -u V0!v07~'O 4cw'~'D Auc;lj$OOO"O BMW 500 5ef_ Lincoln Mart< VII M·.. BMW 300 "0 BMW 300 SerleI 20 U Ponliac FIfellild Ford Muslang Conv. ,~ U c _ """"" "-' Nouan 300Vl 2.2 Ir4zdI, RX·7 Coupe TO)'OllI MR2 -,."" ""'- "-' A-.ge lor All c.. "'-''-' ,." "u... ,.u" ,,"".... ,., ,.. '-' ,." ,",.,.. ., U ,,'-'.... ,..,.,.., ,., u ,,".... •••,.. ,. ...,.,"" ..., ,".. ..,.," '-' .... PNdldM .,. u .,. ", " ,.. - -- AclUIII om. from P\'M1*d "" n• '" '-' '-' '-' ...."•••,. '-' " ..,.... "" ""'-' . .." '-' '-' "'-' '" '" ..."""" ..."" ...""'''' ". "" "" '" "" "" '''' "'" ••• ..."" .,. " ,,... ,".. ... ,,".... ... ... '-' .. "" '" . " '''' '" ". 'N "'" "" .. ... 10 .... ". "" "" '" ,,.,'-' ,.. ... '" "" u "••• "" ""'"'" n. ... " '''' ..'''' 2.0 Unless ot~ .. noteel, resulls shown in the table are !of cars that _e equlPl*l wrth manual IapIshouIl* safety bitlis. Results tor cars equlPPBd wrlh air bags ani ldMitiecI wrlh two asterISks (""). Results !of c.q ~ WIth automatic ~ bells are IdentJlied WIth 11 SIngle aslet\sll; ("J. Earlier models 01 I~" e.t'l equ'pped Wllh manual belts are e.c1udl1d. For exampkJ, Ford', EleOrt _as equopped wrlh auloma11c safely belts beglnTlIIl9 early I1l the 1987 model year. Thenrfofe, mulls _ sl10wn onIylor the 1987-88 model ESCOl1II that had auIDmlIIIC befts. sen" LARGE Most Clf shown In the lable had ne<1her all bags IlOf automatic safely belt$ They_. equwed wottl InInUaI IlplIhouIdeI' bells. ~ WIth 1990 modeI6, ~, .. ears (but I'lOl lTIOSl vans) d) r- lW\C:lmaIIC ~ as ~ eqo.apmenl.. Oealh tales lor !he ~ ~ wrlh . . begs can be expec;tld 10 be lower It*l the resulls shoWn In tt-s table. MIDSIZE 6-I1HS _ Repotl, Ib/. 26, No.4, April 13, 1991 Additional Information About Cars Listed on Pages 4and 5 LARGE ." ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... "." ..... ......... "." ..... ..... .............. 8.-88 85·88 M' 84-88 MIDSIZE ."". &4-88 SMALL ........" .... . .... 87-88 85·88 85·88 LARGE ..... ..... 8HI8 87·88 67-88 ." ..... ..... ..... ..... "... 67-88 ,,,,. Oldsmobile Custom CMSer Pontiac SlfarilParisienne Metcury Grand MaflllJis Dodge Caravan Ford Crown Victoria Plymootl1 Vcyage, Chevrolet Clljlrioe Buicl< E1ectra GM(; Salari Van Ford "","cslar Chevrc18t Aslro Van _240 Ford Taurus BlJick Gen\lJfy Pontiac 6000 CI\eV'ole! Gelebtlty Oldsmobile Cudl\S$ Ciera Ametican ellgte P1ymouH' ReliarJI Chevrolet Caval.., Dodge Aries _wlIOI'" V."agon Subaru DLJGL 4WO TOyol3 TIH'C8l 4WD TOyol3 Van SUbaru DUGL Ford Esoort "'-'Wry Grand Marquis avid< Eteclta Oldsmobile Ninety-Eight Ford Crown Viclotia Chevrolet Caprice/Impala Oldsmobile Delta 88 Pontiac Bonneville Buid<.leSabre Vol.o 240 TO'fOU Cressida TO'fOU ClmfY P&<>geet 505 Oklsmollil6 Firenza .... """"''''''''' 65-66 67-88 MIDSIZE ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... ..... " "... ..... ..... ..... ..... " ... ..... ..... ..... ..... 87-66 ...."... 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II'l or'Id'IM RegIS1l"lion Counts -1I.m 01 vetdIs r8gIIilefed (l,nng cMlndar years 1985-89 P..cenl 'l'tlunlJ-1*cenI 01 dA1tIs WI cars WIlh dnveis under age 30 PermnI M-. - pen:enI 01 ~ II'l Cln WIlh male dnveis Pen:.nI ~~ - Plltl*lI of cINths II'l $rogle.~<nshes NOTES \01. 26, No. 4, AprtII3, 1991 Special Issue This special issue 01 Stalus Report focuses on death rales by car make and series. Other special issues have focused on the following subjects: Low-Speed Crash Tests 26:2, 1991 Fuel Economy, Safety 25:8, 1990 AntHock Brakes for Trucks 25:5, 1990 Speeds on Rural Interstates 251, 1990 Death Rates by Car Series 24:11, 1989 Desiilling Saler 'khicles 24:8, 1!IlI9 Tnd:CrashCongestion 23:12,1988 Making Traffic Laws \\bri 23:6, 1988 Seal Belt .00 Hclmet La", 2201 3, 1987 NHl'SA Salety Rules 221, 1987 Vehicle Size and Death Rates 22:2, 1987 U,S,S.letyActs 2"11,1986 Seat Bell Use laws 20:12.1985 &hool Bus Safety 20,5,1985 Seal Bell Use laws 19:14.1984 Teenagers' Driving 1~1O, 1984 s , ~~REPORT rOl. -- .,.,..". wm 1005 North GItbe Ro.d Arlinglon, VA22201 (703) 247·1500 Editor JAmes H. Mooney A5socWt: Editor. ReJ KelT HowJrth EditoNl Assistant: Cir\ele tqhe$ ProductIon: SbeI1a iacbon, IIiahIlIlIU The ln$urJlICC k1stltute lor IfiIIrwJy 5Ilety is; _Indepm. dent, IlOIIflI1l6l, sdcDtifk: IIIld tducltiorW orpniution.1l is dedkaled to m:lucing the louts - dnths, injurle5. and property damage -...-Iting from nashts on tht 1IIlion'. hlgllways. Tht instItute Is supported by lhe AmerIcan In. stll'llICe Highway Safely Association, the Amerlcan Jnsurtrs Hlghway Safety AlHaocc. the National Associalion of Inde- pendent Insurm Safely Anociallon, and 5C\Itfalindividuai Insurance COlDpWei. ...... Contl!llts l1li}' ~OOI&-988.'( be ttpUb/lIh«I whole, or in part. with altri-