Characterization of the Type and Severity of Traffic Collisions in the United States Using Delta-V

Vehicle designers and accident reconstructionists traditionally use delta-V as one method of describing the severity of motor vehicle accidents. Delta-V is the magnitude of the change of vehicle velocity during the collision. In this paper, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s National Accident Sampling System (NASS) is used to describe (1) the frequency distribution of collision severity (delta-V) and (2) the rate of occupant injury as a function of delta-V, collision type, and seatbelt use.