It is important that door latches and locks perform during crashes. Doors must meet
structural standards that are intended to provide compartment integrity in side impacts.
The energy-absorbing steering column also reduces the injury caused by the steering
column being driven into the driver’s chest in a frontal crash. Compartment integrity also
involves adequate structural strength to prevent collapse during rollover. The main energy
absorption components of the vehicle are placed in elements outside the passenger com-
partment. Passenger restraints not only reduce the second crash, but keep people inside
the protected zone. It is also important that fuel systems retain their integrity. If a fuel tank
ruptures, spills fuel in the passenger compartment, and ignites, the opportunities for escape
and rescue often are lost.
Crashworthiness and integrity of a passenger compartment permit race car drivers
to survive crashes at very high speeds. Crashworthiness has improved in most cars over
the years. Improved design features have contributed to the reduction in crash injuries and
occupant deaths.
14-2 CONTROLLING TRANSPORTATION HAZARDS
There are many factors that can and do contribute to the reduction of motor vehicle accidents and the resulting injuries and losses. In discussing controls, one can apply the models discussed in Chapters 3 and 9. For example, in discussing motor vehicles, the four Ms representing man, machine, media, and management can refer to drivers, vehicles, roadways, weather conditions, regulations, enforcement, and cost.
Vehicles
There are many safety features built into motor vehicles today. The NHTSA has safety
standards for motor vehicles: the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Table
14-1 lists their titles and identifying numbers. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
also publishes numerous standards for vehicles, including many safety standards. Other
Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies also establish vehicle safety standards. The
Urban Mass Transportation Administration has safety standards for buses and rail vehi-
cles, and the Federal Highway Administration has safety standards for trucks.
An important design feature for trucks and cars is antilock brakes. For years, large
aircraft had antilock brakes. Later, this technology moved to trucks and automobiles. The
idea is to sense the moment wheels lock up as static friction between the tires and roadway
changes to sliding friction. Because the coefficient of sliding friction is generally less than
that for static friction, the sensors interrupt braking for a fraction of a second, allowing a
return to static friction, and then braking continues. This sequence repeats frequently until
the vehicle stops.
As for back as 1908, air bags were proposed for automobiles. Today, passenger cars have driver side and passenger side air bags as standard equipment. After the introduction of air bags in certain models, it took more than 20 years to make them standard equipment. Some adjustments in inflation rates were made after performance data suggested that some adults were seriously injured during inflation. There also has been controversy about the use of infant and child seats in front seats of passenger cars, because some air bags have caused some deaths. More recently, air bags have appeared in doors of some automobile models to help minimize injury during side impacts.
Some states require annual vehicle inspections to help ensure that vehicles and safety
devices are in proper working order. The assumption is that vehicles with working head-
It is important that door latches and locks perform during crashes. Doors must meet
structural standards that are intended to provide compartment integrity in side impacts.
The energy-absorbing steering column also reduces the injury caused by the steering
column being driven into the driver’s chest in a frontal crash. Compartment integrity also
involves adequate structural strength to prevent collapse during rollover. The main energy
absorption components of the vehicle are placed in elements outside the passenger com-
partment. Passenger restraints not only reduce the second crash, but keep people inside
the protected zone. It is also important that fuel systems retain their integrity. If a fuel tank
ruptures, spills fuel in the passenger compartment, and ignites, the opportunities for escape
and rescue often are lost.
Crashworthiness and integrity of a passenger compartment permit race car drivers
to survive crashes at very high speeds. Crashworthiness has improved in most cars over
the years. Improved design features have contributed to the reduction in crash injuries and
occupant deaths.
14-2 CONTROLLING TRANSPORTATION HAZARDS
There are many factors that can and do contribute to the reduction of motor vehicle accidents and the resulting injuries and losses. In discussing controls, one can apply the models discussed in Chapters 3 and 9. For example, in discussing motor vehicles, the four Ms representing man, machine, media, and management can refer to drivers, vehicles, roadways, weather conditions, regulations, enforcement, and cost.
Vehicles
There are many safety features built into motor vehicles today. The NHTSA has safety
standards for motor vehicles: the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). Table
14-1 lists their titles and identifying numbers. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
also publishes numerous standards for vehicles, including many safety standards. Other
Department of Transportation (DOT) agencies also establish vehicle safety standards. The
Urban Mass Transportation Administration has safety standards for buses and rail vehi-
cles, and the Federal Highway Administration has safety standards for trucks.
An important design feature for trucks and cars is antilock brakes. For years, large
aircraft had antilock brakes. Later, this technology moved to trucks and automobiles. The
idea is to sense the moment wheels lock up as static friction between the tires and roadway
changes to sliding friction. Because the coefficient of sliding friction is generally less than
that for static friction, the sensors interrupt braking for a fraction of a second, allowing a
return to static friction, and then braking continues. This sequence repeats frequently until
the vehicle stops.
As for back as 1908, air bags were proposed for automobiles. Today, passenger cars have driver side and passenger side air bags as standard equipment. After the introduction of air bags in certain models, it took more than 20 years to make them standard equipment. Some adjustments in inflation rates were made after performance data suggested that some adults were seriously injured during inflation. There also has been controversy about the use of infant and child seats in front seats of passenger cars, because some air bags have caused some deaths. More recently, air bags have appeared in doors of some automobile models to help minimize injury during side impacts.
Some states require annual vehicle inspections to help ensure that vehicles and safety
devices are in proper working order. The assumption is that vehicles with working head-
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