the sample contains of 455 traffic accidents, all with injured truck drivers

Traffic Accidents Heavy Trucks

Volvo Truck Corporation

2001-05-15, Claes Avedal

• The sample contains of 455 traffic accidents, all with injured truck drivers

• Seatbelt usage less than 10%

• Accidents mainly occurred in Sweden

• Volvo Trucks, i.e. cabs tested according to Swedish pendulum test

• Analysis and break down of:

1) Accident type2) Rollover frequency (rollover= turnover 90 degrees or rollover > 90 degrees)3) Cab deformation; frequency of longitudinal deformation of upper a-pillar any side

Analysis of accident statistics:GRSP-INF-CS/3




104 58

98 39 25

70 92

Driving off road162

Collisions189

Truck-truck 126

Truck-car39

Truck-other24

Other29

Roll over55

Main type

1st sequence

55 0

Single246

Other20

53

3714 4

2233

821

2081

425

Driver injury - mildly- badly- killed

Rollover- yes- no

Longitudinal deformation upper A-pillar, any side- yes- no

67 4514

16110

53 73

27 8 4

16 23

11 28

812 4

321

1113

12 8 0

515

614

Accidents with injured truck driver all Volvo cabs- all pendulum tested

455




104 58

98 39 25

70 92

Driving off road162

Collisions189

Truck-other24

Other29

Roll over55

Main type

1st sequence

55 0

Single246

Other20

3714 4

2233

821

2081

425


Rollover- yes- no


812 4

321

1113

12 8 0

515

614

96/ 24639%

167/ 24668%


455

Truck-truck 126

Truck-car39

67 4514

16110

53 73

27 8 4

16 23

11 28




104 58

98 39 25

70 92

Driving off road162

Collisions189

Truck-other24

Other29

Roll over55

Main type

1st sequence

55 0

Single246

Other20

3714 4

2233

821

2081

425


Rollover- yes- no


812 4

321

1113

12 8 0

515

614


455

Truck-truck 126

Truck-car39

67 4514

16110

53 73

27 8 4

16 23

11 28

35/ 18919%

75/ 18939%




104 58

98 39 25

70 92

Driving off road162

Collisions189

Truck-other24


455

Other29

Roll over55

Main type

1st sequence

55 0

Single246

Other20

3714 4

2233

821

2081

425


Rollover- yes- no


812 4

321

1113

12 8 0

515

614

96/ 45521%

Truck-truck 126

Truck-car39

67 4514

16110

53 73

27 8 4

16 23

11 28

75/ 45516%




Rollover+ collision with guard rail Rollover+ collision with earthen bank

Deformation of cab in single vehicle accidents- some severe examples:

85 kph85 kph

50 kph 85 kph




Deformation of cab in truck to truck collisions- severe example:

Collision truck front vs truck rear




• Single vehicle accidents54% of the accidents resulting in truck driver injuries are single vehicle accidents. There is a rollover as first sequence or as a later sequence in 68% of these accidents.

Mainly as a result of impact against ground, earthen bank, guard rail, rock, tree, etc. after the rollover there is a deformation of upper a-pillar in 39% of the single vehicle accidents, i.e. 21% of all accidents in sample.

Longitudinal strength in roof structure and upper a-pillar is needed to protect driver in a single vehicle accident.

• Collisions42% of the accidents resulting in truck driver injuries are collisions. There is a deformation of upper a-pillar in 39% of all collisions, i.e. 16% of all accidents in database.This deformation is in most cases a result of the 1st collision to other vehicle. In only 6 of the car truck collisions with deformed a-pillar, the deformation is a result of impact against ground after a rollover, i.e. ~1% of all accidents in sample.

Longitudinal strength in roof structure and upper a-pillar is needed to protect driver in a collision.

Conclusions:

the sample contains of 455 traffic accidents, all with injured truck drivers

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