Speed, Crash Risk and Injury Severity: ECIS Report 2

Michael P. Fitzharris, Bruce Corben, Michael G. Lenne, Sujanie Peiris, Tandy Pok Arundell, Hampton Clay Gabler, Sara Liu, Amanda Stephens, Diana Bowman, Andrew Morris, Claes Tingvall

Research output: Book/ReportCommissioned ReportResearch

Abstract

Through sponsorship and support from the Victorian Transport Accident Commission (TAC), the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC) with leading local and international partners established the Enhanced Crash Investigation Study (ECIS).

The ECIS program was designed to provide insight into how serious injury crashes occur and then using this information, identify measures that would be effective in preventing occupants of vehicles being seriously injured in the event of a crash.

This report is the second in the ECIS Report series. This report examines the role of vehicle speed in crash occurrence and injury severity. The analysis uses the data collected in the ECIS Case Arm and the ECIS Control Arm, as well as detailed crash reconstructions where selected pre-crash inputs, such as travel speed, are modified so that the theoretical impact of these measures on crash outcomes can be demonstrated.

This report seeks to:
1) Document the relationship between the speed limit and travel speed.
2) Document the relationship between travel speed and hospitalisation-severity crash risk.
3) Document the relationship between travel speed and vehicle speed at impact.
4) Document the frequency of pre-crash steering and braking avoidance actions.
5) Document the relationship between crash impact speed and injury severity.
6) Assess the potential benefits of lower impact speeds on injury severity outcomes.
7) Illustrate the potential benefits of reduced travel speed, speed limit compliance and reduced impact speed on crash and injury severity outcomes using a case series approach.

Addressing these areas of focus will provide a comprehensive examination of the role of vehicle speed and its impact on road safety. It is expected that the insight gained from this analysis will serve as an invaluable input into decisions aimed at eliminating serious injury on the Victorian road transport system.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationMelbourne Vic Australia
PublisherMonash University
Commissioning bodyTransport Accident Commission (TAC)
Number of pages156
ISBN (Print)9781925413144
Publication statusPublished - 16 Dec 2022
EventSecond Symposium on the findings from the Enhanced Crash Investigation Study - Melbourne Museum, Melbourne, Australia
Duration: 16 Dec 2022 → …
https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/statistics/about-tac-surveys/ecis-nested-content

Keywords

  • vision zero
  • safe system
  • crash
  • travel speed
  • impact speed
  • hospitalisation
  • serious injury
  • abbreviated injury scale
  • MAIS 3+
  • road safety
  • crash risk
  • crash avoidance
  • braking
  • crash reconstruction
  • speed reduction scenarios

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