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This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: AJPH.2005.084061v1 96/11/1906    most recent Submit a response View responses View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Robertson, L. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Robertson, L. S. Related Collections Epidemiology Health Policy Injury/Emergency Care/Violence Government Mortality

Leon S. Robertson, PhD

Leon S. Robertson is a retired Yale University research scientist.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Leon S. Robertson, PhD, 1071 W Mountain Nugget Dr, Green Valley, AZ 85614 (e-mail: nanlee252000{at}yahoo.com).

I examined the potential for a lower risk of death compatible with increased fuel economy among 67 models of 1999–2002 model year cars, vans, and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs) during the calendar years 2000 to 2004. The odds of death for drivers and all persons killed in vehicle collisions were related to vehicle weight, size, stability, and crashworthiness.

I calculated that fatality rates would have been 28% lower and fuel use would have been reduced by 16% if vehicle weights had been reduced to the weight of vehicles with the lowest weight per size, where size is measured by the lateral distance needed to perform a 180-degree turn. If, in addition, all vehicles had crashworthiness and stability equal to those of the top-rated vehicles, more than half the deaths involving passenger cars, vans, and SUVs could have been prevented by vehicle modifications.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Z Chalabi, I Roberts, P Edwards, and J Dowie Traffic and the risk of vehicle-related pedestrian injury: a decision analytic support tool Inj. Prev., June 1, 2008; 14(3): 196 - 201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S Robertson Prevention of motor-vehicle deaths by changing vehicle factors Inj. Prev., October 1, 2007; 13(5): 307 - 310. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Evans PUBLIC POLICIES DETERMINE TRAFFIC DEATHS AND FUEL USE Am J Public Health, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 588 - 588. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Robertson ROBERTSON RESPONDS Am J Public Health, April 1, 2007; 97(4): 588 - 589. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Desapriya, I. Pike, and K. Turcotte SPORTS UTILITY VEHICLES AND VULNERABLE ROAD USERS Am J Public Health, April 1, 2007; 97(Supplement_1): S4 - S5. [Full Text] [PDF]

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