Crashworthiness Rollovers
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Crashworthiness: Rollovers

Approximately 90% of crashes involving rollovers occur when the driver of a vehicle loses control of the vehicle, runs off the road and the vehicle is tripped by a curb, ditch, or other object that causes it to rollover. These are usually single vehicle collisions.

More than 10,000 people die in the U.S. due to rollovers each year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), SUVs have the highest rollover rate in crashes with injuries and/or fatalities - they account for nearly 70% of all fatalities in rollover crashes.

In order to help consumers determine the likelihood of their vehicle rolling over in a single vehicle crash, NHTSA has created rollover resistance ratings. These ratings are measured by comparing the vehicle's center of gravity and track width to determine how "top heavy" the vehicle is. A vehicle is more likely to roll over if it is more "top heavy." As a result, SUVs are more likely to roll over than passenger cars.

It is also important to note that very few SUVs are equipped with roll bars to protect the occupants of a vehicle in the event of a rollover. This leads to a higher rate of roof crush.

Roof Crush

Rollovers are the most common cause of roof crush. Roof crush occurs when the roof of a vehicle compresses into the interior of the vehicle. When the roof crushes during a rollover it can lead to serious brain and neck injuries.

Federal requirements for roof crush require that the vehicle withstand one and one-half times the weight of the vehicle at the sides of the roof. This test is done while the vehicle is standing still and is not applied to the center portion of the roof. As a result, the test is a poor indicator of roof performance under actual rollover conditions.

Prevention

There are several things that drivers can do to avoid rollover crashes:

  • Drivers should avoid conditions that might lead them to lose control of the vehicle. For example, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, driving too fast for the road conditions, or driving while tired can all lead to loss of vehicle control.
  • Drivers should be careful when driving on rural roads.
  • Drivers should avoid panic steering. This can cause the vehicle to slide sideways and roll over.
  • Drivers should maintain the tires on their vehicle properly. Worn tires can cause the vehicle to slide on wet pavement. Improper inflation accelerates wear on the tires.
  • Drivers should not overload their vehicles. In addition, drivers should be cautious when using a roof rack - it will increase the likelihood that the vehicle will roll over.

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