Rear-end collisions - 4% or 20%????

NatenMaddiesMommy · Sep 8, 2007

So I read this article. I realize it's from 2002 and discusses safety of 3rd row occupants, but this is what stuck out to me:

"There were 2.3 million rear collisions in 2000, according to the latest-available federal statistics. That was 21.7% of all crashes. There were 2,980 fatal rear-end wrecks in 2000, 6.2% of all fatal collisions."

Both of those percentages are higher than the 4% we always hear about and are taught when taking the CPST course. A friend and I were discussing this issue and we were wondering:

Which statistic is correct? 4% or 20%. Has there been that significant of a reduction in the past 7 years. Where do they get all the information and who is responsible for putting it all together and releasing the statistics to the general public?

Can anyone provide any information/insight here? Just curious.

jebedyah · Sep 8, 2007

Perhaps the 4% number is the number of fatalities from rear-end collisions?

wendytthomas · Sep 8, 2007

The lower number (and I doubt the 4% stays static from year to year, it probably ranges from 3-6%) is the number of SERIOUS rear collisions. A good number of crashes involve the rear of someone (and usually the front of someone else), but they're minor. Both vehicles traveling in the same direction at similar speeds. Not head on or side collisions where the speed differences are greater, and therefore the forces greater. Side crashes are the most likely fatal, frontal crashes the most common severe crash, and rear crashes the most common, but the least severe.

Wendy

lamamaloca · Sep 8, 2007

And a rear-end collision almost always also involves a front-end collision -- the other car.

NatenMaddiesMommy · Sep 8, 2007

lamamaloca said:
And a rear-end collision almost always also involves a front-end collision -- the other car.

My understanding was that if is is a rear-end collision involving another car, that it doesn't count twice so it wouldn't be considered a frontal collision as well. But I could be wrong.

NatenMaddiesMommy · Sep 8, 2007

wendytthomas said:
The lower number (and I doubt the 4% stays static from year to year, it probably ranges from 3-6%) is the number of SERIOUS rear collisions. A good number of crashes involve the rear of someone (and usually the front of someone else), but they're minor. Both vehicles traveling in the same direction at similar speeds. Not head on or side collisions where the speed differences are greater, and therefore the forces greater. Side crashes are the most likely fatal, frontal crashes the most common severe crash, and rear crashes the most common, but the least severe.

Wendy

Thanks for the clarification. Any idea on who compiles the data? Is it based on accident reports, insurance claims, etc.?

Rear-end collisions - 4% or 20%????

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