Characteristics of rollover crashes

Abstract

This report analyses data from police reports on crashes, and from an in-depth study of rural crashes, to examine the characteristics of rollover crashes in South Australia. The risk of a single vehicle rollover crash increases markedly at higher travelling speeds and eighty per cent of these crashes in the in-depth study were initiated by the car running at least partially onto the left unsealed shoulder. Road-related countermeasures such as audio-tactile edge lining and sealed shoulders are discussed, as is the increase with travelling speed in the risk of a crash being a single vehicle rollover. The important role of seat belt wearing in protection against serious or fatal injury is confirmed yet again. The report concludes with a brief review of the literature on the design of vehicles in relation to rollover crashes, including the benefits of electronic stability control.