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AJPH First Look, published online ahead of print Oct 3, 2006
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©
American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2005.084061

Commentaries

Blood and Oil: Vehicle Characteristics in Relation to Fatality Risk and Fuel Economy

Leon S. Robertson 1*

1 Yale University (retired)

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: lrobertson24{at}cox.net.


  Abstract

I examined the potential for a lower risk of death compatible with increased fuel economy among 67 models of 1999-2002 model year cars, vans, and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) during the calendar years 2000 to 2004. The odds of death for drivers and all persons killed in vehicle collisions were related to vehicle weight, size, stability, and crashworthiness.

I calculated that fatality rates would have been 28% lower and fuel use would have been reduced by 16% if vehicle weights had been reduced to the weight of vehicles with the lowest weight per size, where size is measured by the lateral distance needed to perform a 180-degree turn. If, in addition, all vehicles had crashworthiness and stability equal to those of the top-rated vehicles, more than half the deaths involving passenger cars, vans, and SUVs could have been prevented by vehicle modifications.

Key Words: Epidemiology, Government, Health Policy, Injury/Emergency Care/Violence, Mortality




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eLetters:

Read all eLetters

Traffic deaths and fuel use – overwhelming influence is public policy, not vehicle characteristics
Leonard Evans
AJPH Online, 7 Nov 2006 [Full text]
Response to Evans
Leon S. Robertson
AJPH Online, 14 Nov 2006 [Full text]
Comments on Robertson's Response
Leonard Evans
AJPH Online, 16 Nov 2006 [Full text]
Evans' rhetoric and reality
Leon S. Robertson
AJPH Online, 20 Nov 2006 [Full text]
US Traffic Safety Failure -- Data-Based Science Demolishes Robertson's Denial
Leonard Evans
AJPH Online, 28 Nov 2006 [Full text]
"Data-based science"
Leon S. Robertson
AJPH Online, 1 Dec 2006 [Full text]

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