Canadian Institute of Canadian Institute of ActuariesActuaries

Vancouver Vancouver June 2007June 2007

Insurance-DrivenInsurance-DrivenVehicle Safety Vehicle Safety ImprovementsImprovements

John Gane

Trends in Auto Safety Trends in Auto Safety FeaturesFeatures

CrashworthinessCrashworthiness Whiplash ProtectionWhiplash Protection

BumpersBumpers Active Safety Systems Active Safety Systems

Effect on Insurance Losses

HumanHuman VehicleVehicle RoadRoad

Drinking & DrivingSafety PromotionLegislation

Pre-Pre-CrashCrash

CrashCrash

Post-Post-CrashCrash

Seat Belt Usage

Child Restraint

RehabilitationOutcomes Research

Compensation System

Equipment

Standards

Head Restraints

Air Bag Performance

Child Restraints

Vehicle Repair

Roadside Barriers

Intersection-RelatedTraffic ControlRoad Design

CrashworthinessCrashworthiness

MVA Fatality Rate in MVA Fatality Rate in CanadaCanada

1983 – 20021983 – 2002Source: Transport CanadaSource: Transport Canada

0

1

2

3

4

5

Number (Thousands)Per 10,000 Vehicles

Side ImpactsSide Impacts

Crashworthiness Crashworthiness ImprovementsImprovements::

5,200 lives/year5,200 lives/year==

52 lives/year in B.C52 lives/year in B.C..

Whiplash InjuriesWhiplash InjuriesWhiplash InjuriesWhiplash Injuries

60% of all injuries60% of all injuries $600,000,000/yr. in B.C.$600,000,000/yr. in B.C.

30,000 injuries30,000 injuries

60% of all injuries60% of all injuries $600,000,000/yr. in B.C.$600,000,000/yr. in B.C.

30,000 injuries30,000 injuries

Whiplash injury preventionWhiplash injury preventionRCAR geometric rating for head restraintsRCAR geometric rating for head restraints

distance above/below top of average-size man’s head (cm)

4

-18

0

-6

-8

-10

2

-2

-4

-12

-14

-16

good

poor

acceptable

marginal

6 10 12 8 42 14 16 18

backset (cm)

Head restraint geometric Head restraint geometric evaluations evaluations

Passenger cars in model years 1995-Passenger cars in model years 1995-20052005

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2004 2005

poor

marginal

acceptable

good

80%

60%

40%

20%

Improved geometry reduces Improved geometry reduces injury claims rates in rear injury claims rates in rear

crashes of carscrashes of cars100 = average claims rate for all cars each 100 = average claims rate for all cars each

yearyear

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

good acceptable marginal poor good acceptable marginal poor good acceptable marginal poor

2,500 lbs. 3,000 lbs. 3,500 lbs.

vehicle weight and head restraint evaluation

active

nonactive

U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 202aSafety Standard 202a

M.Y. 2008 Vehicles Must Achieve M.Y. 2008 Vehicles Must Achieve “Good” “Good” Geometry Measurements Geometry Measurements

ICBC Head Restraint Measurement ICBC Head Restraint Measurement

Device is the Compliance ToolDevice is the Compliance Tool

Published January 2005 Published January 2005

ICBC – Canada

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety – USA

Thatcham Research – UK

Allianz Insurance – Germany

Insurance Australia Group - Australia

‘‘03 Grand Am / ’02 Windstar03 Grand Am / ’02 Windstar

National Coverage – 18 Stories

Pickups and SUVsPickups and SUVsJanuary 2006January 2006

Results:Results:

44 SUVs – 6 “good”44 SUVs – 6 “good”Ford FreestyleFord Freestyle

Honda PilotHonda PilotJeep Grand CherokeeJeep Grand Cherokee

Land Rover LR3Land Rover LR3Subaru ForesterSubaru Forester

Volvo XC90Volvo XC90

15 Pickups – 0 “good15 Pickups – 0 “good””

2004 models

57%

20%

15%

8%

2006 models

33%

27%

24%

16%

poormarginalacceptablegood

Improvement in rear crash Improvement in rear crash protection ratings for carsprotection ratings for cars

U.S.& Canada models, 2004 vs. U.S.& Canada models, 2004 vs. 20062006

BumpersBumpers

Corner Impacts

5 km/h

Active Safety Active Safety SystemsSystems

Future Crash Mitigation Future Crash Mitigation TechnologyTechnology

Electronic Stability Control

Collision Mitigation Braking System

Lane Departure Warning

Vehicle Safety ResearchVehicle Safety Research