Vehicle size and weight

Selected research bibliography

Highlights from the Institute's research since 1969

Q&A: Vehicle size and weight

News releases

November 17, 2011: Hybrid models have lower injury odds than their conventional counterparts

September 28, 2011: Effort to make SUVs, pickups less deadly to car occupants in crashes is paying off

May 20, 2010: Low-speed vehicles and minitrucks shouldn't share busy public roads with regular traffic

April 14, 2009: New crash tests demonstrate the influence of vehicle size and weight on safety in crashes; results are relevant to fuel economy policies

February 10, 1998 New study of relationships between vehicle weight and occupant death rates helps put in perspective issue of crash compatibility

Status Report newsletter special issues

Vol 44, No. 4, April 14, 2009: Special issue: car size, weight, and safety

Vol. 40, No. 5, April 28, 2005: Special issue: vehicle incompatibility in crashes

Vol. 38, No. 4, April 26, 2003: Special issue: incompatibility of vehicles in crashes

Vol. 34, No. 9, October 30, 1999: Special issue: vehicle compatibility in crashes: Putting the crash compatibility issue in perspective • Changing the weight mix of the passenger vehicle fleet to improve crash compatibility • Changing vehicles' geometric designs can mitigate incompatibility • NHTSA is addressing compatibility in crash tests, analyses of data from real collisions

Vol. 33, No. 1, February 14, 1998: Special issue: crash compatibility: Crash compatibility — how vehicle type, weight affect outcomes • Pickups and SUVs have high property damage liability losses • Heavy SUV registrations rise as heavy car popularity falls • Roles of weight, stiffness, and geometry in crash compatibility • Brian O'Neill, Institute president, on the crash compatibility issue

Status Report newsletter articles

Vol. 46, No. 10, November 17, 2011: Hybrids' injury odds are lower than their gasoline-powered twins due to their heavier weight

Vol 46, No. 8, September 28, 2011: Better compatibility has lessened the danger that SUVs and pickups pose to people in cars

Vol 45, No. 5, May 20, 2010: Low-speed vehicles and minitrucks are showing up on more public roads, and new crash tests illustrate the risk • Ejection is a problem when LSVs crash because doors are optional and occupants don't always use safety belts

Vol 44, No. 2, March 7, 2009: Having improved compatibility, automakers disband cooperative effort to address this issue

Vol. 41, No. 1, January 28, 2006: Incompatibilities between cars and light trucks are being lessened by steps automakers are taking to improve geometric matchups of vehicles' front ends

Vol. 39, No. 3, March 6, 2004: Vehicle size and safety: comprehensive NHTSA report contributes to ongoing consideration of both fuel economy and vehicle compatibility in crashes

Vol. 39, No. 1, January 3, 2004: Compatibility will be improved in front and side impacts, automakers promise

Regulatory comments

Comment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning evaluation of EVC group's voluntary commitments to enhance light truck crash compatibility with cars (Docket No. NHTSA-2012-0070), October 1, 2012

Comment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning proposed frontal offset crash test (Docket No. NHTSA 2003-15715), July 2, 2004

Comment to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concerning initiatives to address vehicle compatibility (Docket No. NHTSA 2003-14623, Notice 1), August 11, 2003

Testimony

Statement before the US House of Representatives, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Approaches to achieving vehicle safety improvements, Brian O'Neill, March 18, 2004

Statement before the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Some aspects of the relative safety of cars and SUVs, Brian O'Neill, February 26, 2003