Paper
Fatal crashes of passenger vehicles before and after adding antilock braking systems

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0001-4575(97)00044-4Get rights and content

Abstract

Fatal crash rates of passenger cars and vans were compared for the last model year before four-wheel antilock brakes were introduced and the first model year for which antilock brakes were standard equipment. Vehicles selected for analysis had no other significant design changes between the model years being compared, and the model years with and without antilocks were no more than two years apart. The overall fatal crash rates were similar for the two model years. However, the vehicles with antilocks were significantly more likely to be involved in crashes fatal to their own occupants, particularly single-vehicle crashes. Conversely, antilock vehicles were less likely to be involved in crashes fatal to occupants of other vehicles or nonoccupants (pedestrians, bicyclists). Overall, antilock brakes appear to have had little effect on fatal crash involvement. Further study is needed to better understand why fatality risk has increased for occupants of antilock vehicles.

References (22)

  • L. Evans et al.

    Antilock brakes and risk of front and rear impact in two-vehicle crashes

    Accident Analysis and Prevention

    (1996)
  • A. Williams et al.

    Driver experience with antilock brake systems

    Accident Analysis and Prevention

    (1994)
  • C. Arehart et al.
  • K. Aschenbrenner et al.

    Mehr Verkehrssicherheit durch bessere technik? Feldunter-suchungen zur risikokompensation am beispiel des antiblockiersystems (ABS)

    (1992)
  • Automotive News

  • A. Barr et al.

    Anti-lock braking systems study

    (1994)
  • N. Breslow et al.

    Statistical methods in cancer research

  • P. Cooper et al.

    Assessment of ABS Effectiveness Using ICBC Claim Data

    (1994)
  • J. Douglas et al.

    The Chrysler ‘Sure-Brake:’ The First Production Four-Wheel Anti-Skid System (SAE 710248)

    (1971)
  • L. Evans

    ABS and Relative Crash Risk Under Different Roadway, Weather, and Other Conditions (SAE 950353)

    (1995)
  • General Motors

    Buick Quality: The Story Behind the Symbol

    (1993)
  • Cited by (40)

    • Should drivers be informed about the equipment of drivers with green light optimal speed advisory (GLOSA)?

      2018, Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
      Citation Excerpt :

      When the risk of a driving situation is perceived as decreasing (e.g., because of ADAS), drivers drive riskier to increase the risk of the driving situation. Several studies have validated this theory in the context of introducing ADAS (Delaney & Newstead, 2004; Farmer, Lund, Trempel, & Braver, 1997; Grant & Smiley, 1993; Hertz, 2000; Kahane, 1994; Nilsson, 1995; Peterson, Hoffer, & Millner, 1995; Rudin-Brown & Parker, 2004; Sagberg, Fosser, & Saetermo, 1997). Green light optimal speed advisory does not reduce the risk of a driving situation.

    • Road vehicle state estimation using low-cost GPS/INS

      2011, Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing
      Citation Excerpt :

      With the implementation of these intelligent systems, vehicles have become safer to drive [1] with less involvement in fatal accidents [2,3]. Evidence of this can be seen in the increased demand for ABS since 1990 [2]. It is envisaged that future development of more advanced and sophisticated control systems requires accurate and ‘up-to-date’ vehicle dynamic information.

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text