Independent Review: Statistical Analyses of Relationship Between Vehicle Curb Weight, Track Width, Wheelbase and Fatality Rates

摘要

NHTSA selected the vehicle footprint (the measure of a vehicle's wheelbase multiplied by its average track width) as the attribute upon which to base the CAFE standards for model year 2012-2016 passenger cars and light trucks. These standards are likely to result in weight reductions in new light duty vehicles. As part of its regulatory analysis, the government would like to estimate the effect of the new CAFE standards on safety in terms of crash injuries and fatalities. A number of fairly comprehensive statistical papers have been published analyzing associations between fatality/injury rates and vehicle weight, track width, and wheelbase. Many of the papers arrive at conclusions that are inconsistent.