A rollover is an accident in which a motor vehicle rolls over onto its side or onto its roof. It is a unique category of crashes because although the number of highway fatalities has remained fairly stable over the past decade, highway fatalities arising out of rollover accidents has increased. It is certainly no surprise that SUVs are the most common vehicle involved in rollover crashes. The Federal National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced in July of 2003 that, “fatalities in rollover crashes accounted for 82% of the total fatality increase in 2002…The number of persons killed in sport utility vehicles (SUVs) that rolled over rose 14%. 61% of all SUV fatalities involved rollovers.”
What are the primary causes of rollover crashes and how can injury be avoided? Numerous studies have been prepared on these issues. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), an annual census of all fatal motor vehicle crashes occurring in the United States as well as the Federal Highway Administration data on vehicle registrations and Vehicle Miles Travel shed interesting data. The National Center for Statistics Analysis (NCSA) published a comprehensive analysis of the statistical data obtained by these entities. The most important conclusions are as follows:
1. Nearly 3/4 of occupants killed in rollover crashes were not using restraints and slightly less than two-thirds of them were completely ejected from the vehicle.
2. Most fatal rollover crashes are single vehicle crashes.
3. Positive elevated blood alcohol levels are associated with fatal rollovers, and particularly fatal single rollovers. Involved drivers with positive blood alcohol levels are more likely to have blood alcohol at or above the intoxication level.
4. Rollover crashes are more likely to result in fatalities than other types of crashes.
5. Rollover crashes constitute 1/5 of all fatal crashes.
6. The number of fatal passenger car rollover crashes has been decreasing in recent years.
7. The number of fatal light truck rollover crashes is increasing, particularly among SUVs and vans.
8. The number of fatal SUV rollovers has more than doubled since 1991, growing faster than any other class of light trucks.
9. Speed was an important factor in fatal rollovers, with most crashes occurring on the roads where the speed limits were 55 miles an hour or greater.
Obviously, the above data demonstrates a few irrefutable statistics. Driving under the influence and speeding increased the likelihood of rollover accidents. Moreover, failure to use a safety restraint system greatly increases the risk of the injury and death. Equally irrefutable, however, is the fact that SUVs are at a greater risk of rolling over in an accident. Unfortunately, often the risk is unnecessary and due solely to defective designs in the vehicle by the manufacturer. Before purchasing a vehicle, you may obtain its rollover rating from NHTSA at http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/5-Star+Safety+Ratings.
SUVs can be a fun, as well as an efficient, source of transportation. In order to minimize the associated risks, however, be smart, educated, and be prepared.
