How to get the full report

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to determine the causal factors (including vehicle type) of collisions involving a light-duty vehicle rollover.  Information on the frequency of these collisions and on the number of occupants killed or injured in these collisions is also provided.  Analyses were performed on the data contained in the Traffic Accident Information Database (TRAID) for the calendar years 1993 to 1997.  Data from the Census of Vehicles In Operation Canada (CVIOC) for those years were also used.

The analyses suggest that there are approximately 25,000 collisions involving a light-duty vehicle rollover per year in Canada; these collisions result in the death of approximately 500 persons and in bodily injury to another 15,000 to 17,000 persons.  The data show that Light Trucks and Vans (LTVs) roll over more often than automobiles both as a proportion of single-vehicle collisions and the number of vehicles in-use; the data also show single LTV rollovers cause more deaths and injuries to their occupants than automobile rollovers in proportion to the number of single-vehicle collisions.

The causal factors of fatal single-vehicle rollover collisions, as reported by police in accident report forms, were also reviewed.  Alcohol consumption, speeding and slippery roads are reported more often as a contributing factor in that type of crash than they are in collisions not involving a rollover, for both automobiles and LTVs.  In addition, and only for LTVs, Road Defects/Construction is reported more often as a contributing factor in crashes involving a rollover.  Curved roads increases the proportion of fatal single vehicle crashes which result in rollovers for automobiles only; in the case of LTVs, the proportion does not change but it is consistently worse than that of automobiles.

Finally, the report notes that Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) were becoming available in the national collision data; a preliminary review of the available VIN data suggests that a large proportion of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) are erroneously classified as automobiles in TRAID.  Once VINs are available for all Provincial and Territorial Jurisdictions, it will be possible to determine the extent of this error in vehicle classification.  VIN data will also allow the detailed study of rollover collisions for specific types of vehicles such as SUVs.

How to get the full report:

The full report on the "Occurrence of Light-Duty Vehicle Rollovers in TRAID (1993 to 1997)" is available in portable document format (PDF - 256KB). To view PDF documents you must use Adobe® Acrobat Reader. Visit the Adobe site to download the latest, free version.

If you need an alternative format or for more information, please contact us by e-mail at RoadSafetyWebMail@tc.gc.ca or call toll free 1-800-333-0371 (Ottawa area (613) 998-8616).

Road Safety and Motor Vehicle
Regulation Directorate
Transport Canada
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