Weak Roofs And Rollovers

The government roof strength standard is weak and its static test is unrealistic.

Weak roofs and rollovers.

The blame often needs to be turned toward the manufacturer and designer of these potentially dangerous vehicles with weak roofs that crush during a rollover accident. The 1999 to 2007 ford truck models have especially weak roofs due to ford removing even more material than its previous versions to save money. Roof strength to protect occupants in most rollovers without imposing significant weight penalties. Roof integrity is the most fundamental element of occupant safety in a rollover crash.

Lack of stronger roofs to prevent roof crush injuries in a chevrolet tahoe rollover or gmc yukon rollovers. The new findings however could provide crucial supporting evidence for federal officials seeking to strengthen a 33 year old roof strength standard that many safety advocates say is far too weak to protect u s. Three top ford truck types have documented roof crush incidents in rollover accidents. Additionally the typical suv tends to have a weak roof and insufficient crash protection putting passengers at a higher risk for death and paralysis.

Moreover a weak roof will transmit force onto the windows as it strikes the ground ensuring that windows break and. Introduction structurally weak roofs are the primary cause of. A sudden maneuver that would not pose a rollover risk to a sedan can cause an suv rollover accident. The government routinely gives passing rollover test grades to manufacturers that receive failing grades in real world rollover accidents.

In 2006 alone there were 10 698 people killed and approximately 24 000 people seriously injured in rollover accidents in the united states. If the roof is weak it will collapse into the cab as the vehicle rolls. Roof crush continues to be a severe risk to people in rollovers. The discussion reflects continued concern at the nhtsa over injuries and deaths from suv rollovers amid a new wave of litigation targeting allegedly weak roofs.

A rollover is a series of impacts that can involve the front side roof and rear of the vehicle. The safety administration said roof crush appeared to figure in an estimated 596 deaths and 807 injuries a year among front seat occupants who wore seat belts. Finally we discuss an approach to dynamic roof strength testing that is based on what occurs in an actual serious injury producing rollover. Motorists particularly as rollover prone suvs and pickups proliferate.

It is the weakness of the roof structures i e the lack of resistance to stresses inherent in rollovers that allows the roof to intrude into the passenger cabin. Rollover accidents are a significant contributor to highway suv fatalities each year.