5. Types of Vehicles Turned Over
  What kinds of vehicles turn over more often? Types of overturned vehicles together with rollover occurrence rates in our traffic accident surveys are shown in the graphs below in the case of single-vehicle accidents (Fig. 13) and vehicle-to-vehicle accidents (Fig. 14).

  Light passenger cars, SUVs, ordinary trucks, and large trucks, among others, roll over more often in single-vehicle accidents. In vehicle-to-vehicle accidents, light passenger cars, station wagons/minivans, SUVs, and light trucks are the major victims of rollover. The cause for this is assumed to be the effect of vehicle characteristics such as the height, tread, wheelbase and weight. In addition, the way the driver operates the vehicle, the driver's driving skills against crosswinds, running of animals into the road and other unexpected events, and road conditions, are also considered possible factors. Some reported causes of rollover accidents include spinning of a vehicle due to reckless driving, running off the road due to dozing, and breaking of the suspension or blowout of tires due to overloading or inadequate maintenance.

Fig. 13  Vehicle Rollover by Type of Vehicle (Single-Vehicle Accidents)

Fig. 14  Vehicle Rollover by Type of Vehicle (Vehicle-to-Vehicle Accidents)

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Institute for Traffic Accident Research and Data Analysis (ITARDA)