00378508

Component

https://onlinepubs.trb.or...trcircular/264/264-001.pdf

To summarize the Forum, it appears that a market does exist for smaller vehicles either as a second vehicle or where vehicle use is limited. Among younger drivers, there is some demand for the smaller vehicle as a first car because of both lower initial cost and lower operating costs. It is projected that the smaller vehicle would account for only 6-9 percent of total passenger car sales. This sales percentage probably would not cause a major increase in total highway safety statistics because certain limits would normally be imposed on the use of smaller vehicles by their purchasers. However, the presence of these smaller vehicles on the nation's roadway systems will still cause a number of problems. The smaller vehicle always loses in any competition for space with larger vehicles. The result is increased fatalities and injuries for small-vehicle passengers. But it is possible to incorporate certain safety features in the vehicle design to ameliorate the size disparity between smaller and larger vehicles. In addition, although roadway design geometrics generally accommodate vehicle downsizing, some roadside appurtenances will have to be modified to provide passenger protection in small-vehicle collisions. (Author)

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p. 2

1983-9

Transportation Research Circular

Digital/other

Compact automobiles; Fatalities; Geometric design; Injuries; Light vehicles; Market research; Roadside structures; Vehicle design; Vehicle safety

Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety

TRIS, TRB

Dec 30 1983 12:00AM

• DESIGN NOTES FOR A SAFER HALF MEGAGRAM AUTOMOBILE (DISCUSSION)
• ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS (DISCUSSION)
• LAWS, STANDARDS AND LIABILITY (DISCUSSION)
• MINI AND MICROAUTOMOBILE FORUM: OVERVIEW AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS; PART 1: MARKET AND USE CONSIDERATIONS--INTRODUCTION
• MINI AND MICROAUTOMOBILE FORUM: OVERVIEW AND POTENTIAL PROBLEMS; PART 2: MINI-MICRO PROBLEMS--INTRODUCTION
• OPERATOR AND SAFETY PROBLEMS (DISCUSSION)
• POTENTIAL IMPACT OF THE MICROVEHICLE ON ROADWAY FACILITIES (DISCUSSION)
• POTENTIAL USAGE (DISCUSSION)
• THE MARKET POTENTIAL FOR MICRO-MINI CARS IN THE UNITED STATES (DISCUSSION)