[extropy-chat] SUV's are killing their drivers.

[BillK]

On Thu, 19 Aug 2004 12:15:18 -0700 (PDT), Mike Lorrey wrote:
> 
> A conflation has occured though, in this duscussion. The stats say that
> more people are dying in accidents in which trucks and SUVs are
> involved. They don't say that those people are in the cars being struck
> by the trucks and SUVs, and as the truck/SUV population increases, more
> people are going to be hit by, or hit, trucks/SUVs. It says nothing
> about the relative danger of being IN a truck or SUV, and Bill, et al
> should recognise this important distinction.
> 

No, Mike. The fatality statistics *are* analysed by type of vehicle.
The 2003 stats mostly show reductions in deaths from 2002, because
2002 was a bit above the trend line. So it is not all bad news. The
reduction in fatalities is probably linked to the increase in seat
belt wearing that has been noted and the reduction in alcohol-related
fatalities.

Occupants killed in Motor Vehicle Crashes, by type of vehicle

                                                            2002      
               2003
Total Passenger vehicles                      32,843                     31,904
           Cars                                        20,569         
           19,460
           Vans                                         2,109         
             2,066
           SUVs                                        4,031          
            4,446
           Pickup Trucks                            6,100             
         5,904
           Large trucks                                 689           
              723
           Other                                           469        
                 510
           Unknown                                      104           
              334

(Note the 10% increase in SUV occupants killed).


Occupants killed in Rollover Crashes by type of vehicle

                                                             2002     
                  2003
Passenger car                                      4,794              
        4,433
Van                                                        699        
                 724
SUV                                                     2,471         
             2,639
Pickup truck                                          2,755           
           2,569


As there are about 3 to 4 times as many cars registered as SUVs and
vans, then SUVs and vans do kill their occupants in rollovers far more
than would be expected.

The stats are actually incredibly detailed.
See: <http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/departments/nrd-30/ncsa/>

BillK