The major causes of serious injuries on the road

A large-scale Monash University study has revealed the major causes of serious injuries on Victorian roads.

The Enhanced Crash Investigation Study (ECIS) gained unparalleled access to 400 seriously injured drivers to understand the factors and severity of their crashes.  

The crashes were drawn from across the state and occurred between August 2014 and December 2016.

Each crash was examined in forensic detail, with research nurses interviewing the drivers or their families following admission to The Alfred or Royal Melbourne Hospital. Crash investigation teams also inspected the scene of each crash and the vehicles involved. 

The injuries suffered by people involved in these crashes were severe and required extensive medical care. Drivers spent an average of 8.6 days in hospital with 40 per cent requiring additional time in a rehabilitation centre.

“This is the start of a different and life-changing journey for many, with extended time off work being common and being unable to do the things we take for granted no longer being possible,” chief investigator Associate Professor Michael Fitzharris said.

Impact speed was shown to play a significant factor in injury severity, with serious injuries more common in crashes that occurred on lower quality roads with higher posted speed limits.

“Our research team saw first-hand the effects of high-speed crashes. The research also shows the limits and inability of vehicles to protect drivers from serious injury in high speed crashes. The need to create safe roads by matching speed limits to the road infrastructure is critical,” Assoc. Prof. Fitzharris said.

The study shows that in 45 per cent of crashes, the involved driver(s) had no time to brake. For the 55 per cent of crashes where a driver braked, they did so for 1.3 seconds on average.

“This result highlights the split-second nature of crashes and the need for safe vehicles and safe roads,” Assoc. Prof. Fitzharris said.

The study examined over 180 possible contributing factors for a crash, with crashes being meticulously reconstructed using sophisticated 3D software. The study found that exceeding the speed limit by just 3km/h increased a driver’s crash risk by 25 per cent.

Exceeding the speed limit was the most common non-compliant behaviour from drivers in ECIS crashes (26.2 per cent), followed by the presence of alcohol or drugs (19.1 per cent) and the disregarding of instructions including stop signs and traffic lights (13.7 per cent).

A range of other driver performance factors were found to have played a role in the crash, including driver error, while the effects of medical conditions (14.5 per cent) and physical health and acute illness (5.6 per cent) were also seen to have contributed to crash occurrence. Driver drowsiness was seen in 25 per cent of all crashes and was higher in run-off-road crashes. The study also found that mental health and psychological distress played a role in 12 per cent of crashes occurring.

Vehicle age was an important factor associated with injury severity. Safety features, especially airbags, were lacking in older vehicles, while seat belt non-use also contributed to higher levels of injury. Nearly half of drivers were trapped in their vehicle due to the amount of vehicle crush, requiring extensive support from emergency services personnel.

Drivers of newer vehicles holding a five-star ANCAP safety rating fared best with the lowest proportion (17.2 per cent) of drivers being seriously injured. These results highlight the importance of drivers having the safest car possible and a continued focus on improving vehicle safety for all road users. For drivers of cars with a safety rating of three stars or lower, more than half were seriously injured.

“What we saw was that even for the nearly 60 per cent of crashes where the involved driver(s) met all the criteria of being a safe driver, crashes still occurred and drivers were seriously injured,” Assoc. Prof. Fitzharris said.

“This shows the need to focus on long-term sustainable solutions that will protect drivers from being seriously injured when crashes occur. Clearly though, immediate actions including measures to improve driver compliance and those focused on reducing the speeds at which vehicles crash is needed.”

To access the full report, visit the Monash University Accident Research Centre website.

Do you still drive an older car? Would you consider a car upgrade to improve your chances of avoiding a serious injury in a car crash?

3 comments

I would like to upgrade but, as a pensioner, I can't afford one.

Ronloby, your point is a very valid one.  The Legislators and the academics who go on about how "essential" it is that we all need to buy the most recent vehicle with the 5 star ANCAP rating don't seem to understand that for many, even a $10,000 15 year old car is a major purchase.

However, just remember that according to the ANCAP ratings the old VW Beetle and Mini Minor were "natural born killers" and nobody survived driving them around.  Funny that many millions of people survived those lowly steeds and lived to drive another day.

I have been driving for over 60 years with a minimal minor collision history and no injuries. There are no surprises to me in the article. Many of my cars have been vintage and classic with manual transmissions and no seatbelts, alongside more modern contemporary vehicles. The "oldies" require much more driver concentration to avoid later model cars whose drivers don't appreciate the handling and braking limitations of their predecessors. However, collisions involving historic vehicles happen rarely.

Modern cars are faster, accelerate and brake more rapidly. Theoretically they are safer in the event of a crash. Seatbelts and airbags undoubtedly help. Crumple zones look worse than old heavy steel bodywork does after damage, but apparently do minimise human injury.

I believe that many speed limits are too high for the skill level, speed and concentration of modern car drivers, especially on narrow country roads with sub-standard surfaces. Road maintenance and assessed maximum speed limits certainly constitute the major safety area needing urgent attention.

In addition, modern cars are too complex with too many fiddly accessories requiring driver input, e.g. sound systems, GPS, etc. In my humble, aging, opinion, private vehicles reached their easiest and safest to drive zenith in 2012-13 (and this from a vintage car enthusiast!) and have become too complicated since then, including their mechanical attributes - turbos, dual clutches, etc.

Every driver should learn to drive with manual transmission to properly comprehend the dynamics of driving safely and to appreciate how a vehicle responds to appropriate control manipulation. Morris Minor school, anyone?

An extra observation: too many drivers do not correctly adjust their seat height to ensure adequate vision over their surroundings. Too many people drive cars which are too big for them to drive safely. Perhaps vehicle size ratio to driver's personal dimensions should be legislated!? And vehicles keep getting unnecessarily bigger and bigger....

 

 

I bought my car new in early 2011 after selling my 25-year-old car that still looked like new and had been wonderful--and also well looked after I have been happy with my new car except for the airbags -- which have been replaced  -- but with the same make  (crazy)  

I would be happy to drive without airbags -- but it is not allowed --  as have been driving for 68 years without one booking and only one accident when a wheel fell off the work vehicle.

I do not like these new-fangled cars that çorrect and turn on wipers etc etc -- and I am not at all keen on the new auto cars either.

I take pride in my driving and consider it a privilege

 

I also prefer to drive a manual car not an auto

People need to show care/manners/and skill on the road

I would have no trouble driving an old or a new car but before I drove and an unfamiliar car I would have a dive in a quiet area to get the feel of it -- as all cars feel different in some way

 

 

3 comments



To make a comment, please register or login

Preview your comment