ESTIMATES OF THE POTENTIAL BENEFIT OF EXTENDING SELECTED PASSENGER CAR SAFETY STANDARDS TO LIGHT TRUCKS, VANS, AND MULTIPURPOSE VEHICLES

This paper reports the results of a study in which accident data were analyzed to estimate the effects of extending FMVSS 214, FMVSS 216, FMVSS 208, FMVSS 212, and FMVSS 219 to light trucks, vans, and multi-purpose vehicles. The study objective was to estimate the potential savings in the form of injury reduction that could be attributed to the extension of these standards to light trucks, vans, and MPVs. Data from the National Crash Severity Study were analyzed. FMVSS 208 showed substantial potential benefit. The benefits of extending FMVSS 212, 214, and 216 were slight, with injury prevention potential lying in the 0.2% to 0.4% range. No potential benefit to the extension of FMVSS 219 was found.