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Severity of injuries in road crashes: A comparison of injured occupants of forward control vehicles and conventional passenger cars
Author(s) -
Paix Bruce R.,
Gibson Thomas J.,
McLean A. Jack,
Woodward Alistair J.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1986.tb113866.x
Subject(s) - transport engineering , poison control , engineering , aeronautics , forensic engineering , automotive engineering , medical emergency , medicine
Light vans are being used increasingly as substitutes for conventional passenger cars in Australia. These “forward control” vans are not required to meet the same safety standards as passenger cars. A study group of 258 injured occupants of light vans was identified from the records of the Motor Accidents Board of Victoria. A comparison group of 3468 injured occupants of conventional cars was also identified. Both groups had been injured in accidents occurring in Victoria between 1980 and 1983. The injuries received by the van occupants were compared with those received by the car occupants. Van occupants injured in frontal crashes were more likely to have sustained leg injury, and were more likely to have sustained serious injury than were car occupants who were injured in frontal crashes. Forward control vans were found to lack protection for occupants in frontal crashes.