Injuries to Occupants of U.S. Army High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles in Rollover Accidents, 1989-2007
Abstract
This study analyzed reported occupant restraint use among U.S. Army Soldiers who were injured in High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) rollover accidents reported to the U.S. Army Combat Readiness / Safety Center. During the time period studied (1989 through 2007), Soldiers who reportedly had not worn occupant restraints were three times more likely to die than Soldiers who reportedly had worn occupant restraints during a HMMWV rollover accident. Wearing occupant restraints could have saved 69 percent of Soldiers' lives lost from being unrestrained in HMMWV rollover accidents and 41 percent of all Soldiers' lives lost in HMMWV rollover accidents during the time period studied, reducing total fatality costs by 59 percent ($3.8 to $12.7 million). These findings support the use of occupant restraints as a life-saving, injury-mitigating and cost-saving countermeasure in HMMWV rollover accidents. More command and peer-to-peer enforcement of mandatory restraint use in HMMWVs and other tactical vehicles used in Army operations is necessary.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 02, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA579448
Entities
People
- Amy Barrett
- Dan Wise
- Joseph Mcentire
- Kraig Pakulski
- Michael K. Lo
- Parrish Balcena
- Paul St. Onge
- Robert Giffin
- Shean Phelps
Organizations
- United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab