How does the safety performance of different vehicle types and weights affect the severity of a driver’s injury?

Abstract

This study explores the impact of vehicle type and weight on occupant protection in fixed-object crashes and compares outcomes with rollovers and two-vehicle collisions. Six years of Iranian crash data were examined. A crashworthiness index based on binomial logistic regression shows that rollover crashes are considerably more dangerous than fixed-object or two-vehicle crashes. Trucks and SUVs perform better than other vehicle types. Increased vehicle weight does not consistently enhance safety; the least dangerous weight range in the study is 1,500–2,000 kg. The findings provide a comparative understanding of vehicle safety and driver-injury severity across crash types.