The extent of backover collisions internationally

ABSTRACT

This study reports good consistency in international comparisons of the number and severity of backover crashes. More than half occurred to pedestrians aged 60 years and older. Children less than 9 years comprised 5% of these crashes with a similar percent aged 10 to 19 years. A significant 41% reduction in real-world backover crashes was found for Australian vehicles with reversing cameras. A range of driver and pedestrian maneuvers was found and 11 crash scenarios were identified in backover collisions. Mandating the fitting of reversing cameras to all vehicles and enhancements would likely enhance the safety of pedestrians in reversing maneuvers.

KEYWORDS:

• Safety
• reversing collisions
• pedestrians
• injuries
• interventions

Acknowledgments

The authors are especially grateful to Margaret Prendergast and Bernard Carlon of NSW Transport for sponsorship of this study and to Robert Hogan of the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development in initiating this research. We are also grateful to the international partners for providing their data on reversing collisions to pedestrians in the United Kingdom (Bernie Frost), Germany (Claus Pastor and Bernd Lorenz), and the European Commission (Maria-Teresa Sanz-Villegas). While the U.S. data were downloaded for the NHTSA website, we thank for earlier advice Christopher Bonanti, David Hines, Markus Price, Jonathon Roth, and Jesse Chang at NHTSA.

Funding

NSW Transport ID: [CRS/2014/GM06].