Bahman S. Roudsari, Charles N Mock, and Robert Kaufman. Epidemiology Department, Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center, #325, 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-547-7070, roudsari@u.washington.edu

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of the class of vehicle (Passenger vehicles (PV) vs. light truck vehicles (LTVs)) on the crash trajectory and source of pedestrian injury.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Pedestrian Crash Data Study (PCDS), conducted by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration from 1994-98. Comprehensive data regarding the pedestrian, vehicle and crash characteristics were collected in this study. For the purpose of this article we have focused on adults.

Results: 62% of the adults struck by PVs and 28% of those hit by LTVs were carried by the striking vehicle. Being projected forward was the most common (65%) type of pedestrian-vehicle interaction for LTV-involved crashes. Only thorax (37% vs. 20%) and abdomen injuries (33% vs. 18%) were more common for LTV-adult crashes compared to PV-involved collisions. In PV-involved crashes, windshield for head injuries (63%), hood surface for thorax (67%), abdomen (58%), and upper extremity (36%) injuries and bumper for the lower extremity injuries (60%) were the most common sources of injury. For LTV collisions, ground for head (39%) and upper extremity (37%) injuries, hood edge for thorax (48%) and abdomen (56%) injuries and bumper for lower extremity injuries (45%) were the leading causes of injury. Conclusion: Hood surface and windshield for PV-pedestrian crashes and hood surface and hood edge for LTV-involved collisions, were the major sources of injury. Changes in design, such as altering vehicle geometry and stiffness of front-end structures might be associated with considerable decrease in injury frequency and severity.

Learning Objectives:

1. In the past two decades the vehicle fleet has been changed significantly. 2. The number of LTVs has been increased considerably in most developed countries, especially in the US and two third of the LTVs of the world are sold in the US. 3. The change in vehicle fleet has been associated with significant changes in pedestrian injury profile. 4. Only real world crash studies, such as PCDS, are able to evaluate the dynamic nature of pedestrian injuries.
• Being projected forward is the most common pedestrian-LTV interaction, while being carried by the striking vehicle is more common for PV-adult crashes.
• Thoracic and abdominal injuries are more common in LTV-crashes.
• Hood Surface, hood edge and windshield are the major sources of pedestrian injuries and their modifications should be considered in vehicle design for designing safer vehicles.

Keywords: Motor Vehicles, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.