3032.0: Monday, November 13, 2000 - Board 4

Abstract #13417

The Effect of Sport Utility Vehicles on Pedestrian Injuries in Maryland, 1994-1998

Michael Francisco Ballesteros, MS, Joseph Kufera, MS, and Patricia Dischinger, PhD. National Study Center for Trauma and EMS, Department of Epid. and Prev. Med, University of Maryland, Baltimore, 701West Pratt Street, Fifth Floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-328-2683, mballest@nsc.ummc.umaryland.edu

Background: Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are an increasingly popular type of vehicle seen on today’s roads. Little epidemiologic research has been done on the effect of their growing presence on pedestrian injuries. “Pedestrian deaths” is the second largest category of motor vehicle deaths (Baker, 1992).

Objective: To characterize pedestrian crashes and examine the relationship between car type (SUVs versus conventional automobiles) and pedestrian injury severity.

Methods: Data on pedestrian crashes were obtained through Maryland state police records (1994-1998) and restricted to single-vehicle, single-pedestrian, frontal crashes involving either an SUV or a conventional automobile.

Results: Compared to other automobiles, fewer SUV crashes occurred in Baltimore City (35.6% vs. 16.8%, respectively), fewer occurred in low speed limit areas [25mph or below] (44.6% vs. 35.0%), and more occurred on wet surfaces (38.0% vs. 45.7%). SUV drivers were more likely to be males aged 30-39, and they tended to hit male pedestrians older than the age of 20. Pedestrians hit by SUVs were significantly more likely to have been seriously injured or to have died. Higher speed limits also resulted in an increase in pedestrian injury severity score, and this increase was even greater if the vehicle was an SUV. Among crashes in the lowest speed limits, car type did not increase injury severity.

Conclusion: Increased injury severity among pedestrians hit by SUVs may be a result of external SUV vehicle designs and increased vehicle mass. Differences in crash characteristics may reflect the demographics of the SUV driver.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the learner will be able to describe characteristics of pedestrian-SUV crashes in Maryland, and understand the relationship between pedestrian injury severity, speed limit, and vehicle type

Keywords: Injury, Injury Risk

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA