CAPITULO IV: METOLOGÍA DE LA INVESTIGACIÓN
4.2. El Modelo a estimar:
Volvo superior in our ranking of safe cars
“How safe is the car?” is Folksam’s ranking of the crash safety of cars and is based on the outcome of real ac- cidents. The highest rating in this year’s report went to Volvo’s models V70, XC70, S80, S60 and V60 from 2007 and forward. Their safety level is nearly 60 per cent higher than the average car and 12 percentage points better than number two on the list, Honda CRV 98-06.
Every year, we handle more than 50,000 road traffic claims. This gives us access to a large collective knowledge about how damage and injuries arise, how they can be avoided or limited. The make and model of car you are travelling in is very significant for the consequences of an accident.
Top list Per cent better than the average
Volvo V70/S80/S60/V60 07- 59 Honda CRV 98-06 47 Volvo V70/S80/S60 00-06 46 BMW 5-series 04-09 44 Audi A4 01-07 43 Mitsubishi Galant 97-03 42 VW Passat/CC 08- 42 Volvo XC90 02- 42
In this year’s report, we ranked 238 car models.
New agreement with OKQ8 and Hertz
Upon damage, many of our auto insurance customers get a rental car while their own car is in the workshop. We then ensure that the customers get sustainable cars by setting requirements on what safety and environmental standards the rental cars shall have. However, the greatest effect is on the used car market. Since the rental car companies most often replace their car fleet after 9-10 months, we are involved in influencing the standard of the cars in the second-hand market. The criteria are based on Folksam’s annual list over safe and sustainable cars.
Whiplash protection most effective for men
We carried out the first study in the world that shows how effective whiplash protection in cars is for men and women, respectively. The results show large differences in the pro- tective effect between the genders. The whiplash protection in one out of five cars has little or no protective effect for women, while the same protection functions well for men. One cause of the difference is that car makers for many years have worked based on the physiology of men in the development of whiplash protection.
60 per cent fewer skull injuries with bicycle helmets
Our study shows that bicycle helmets prevent 60 per cent of all bicycle-related head injuries that lead to chronic difficulties. Nearly four out of ten serious face injuries can also be prevented.
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The study is based on just over 55,000 injuries reported by the emergency hospitals in Sweden between 2003-2012. The results were presented at the international scientific traffic safety conference IRCOBI in Gothenburg.
12 of 13 approved child bicycle helmets do not protect against the most common head injuries
We presented a bicycle helmet test for child helmets just before the summer. Blows where the head is subjected to rotation are the most common kind of violence in a bicycle accident and can lead to brain injury. In spite of this the Swedish Consumer Agency’s certification tests of bicycle helmets do not include blows with rotation. Folksam’s more stringent test of the most common bicycle helmets for children and adolescents shows that only one of the 13 CE-approved helmets protect against injuries as a result of blows with rotation.
ABS brakes crucial to motorcyclist safety
One of our studies shows that motorcyclists that ride with ABS brakes run a full 65 per cent lower risk of suffering injuries that lead to medical disability than motorcyclists who ride without ABS.
Of the approximately 300,000 motorcycles on Sweden’s roads, only around 18 per cent are equipped with ABS brakes. But there is a positive trend. Between 2008 and 2012, new sales of motorcycles with ABS increased from 15 per cent to 70 per cent. From 2016, ABS brakes are compul- sory on all new motorcycles over 125 cc. If all motorcycles had ABS, 13 deaths and 160 severe accidents could have been avoided every year. Motorcycles equipped with ABS receive a 15 per cent premium reduction with us.
Automatic brakes difficult for car buyers to choose
Automatic emergency brakes are one of the car’s most im- portant protective systems. However, although the system is just as effective as anti-lock brakes and airbags, there are very few car makers who offer it as standard equipment. Moreover, there are several different kinds of automatic
brakes and it is difficult for the consumer to find out how the various systems work.
Earlier studies have mainly shown the accident-avoidan- ce effect of automatic brakes. Our new study shows that the damage-reducing effect is even higher due to the reduced crash violence in the crashes that nonetheless occur. Auto- matic brakes that engage upon rear-end collisions on roads with a speed limit up to 50 km/h reduce the drivers’ injuries in the car hit by a full 64 per cent. In about 40 per cent of cases, a collision still occurred, but without causing any in- juries. In addition, around 25 per cent of the accidents are estimated to have been avoided entirely. Cars with automa- tic brakes as a standard receive a premium reduction.
Studded or non-studded winter tyres?
Before every winter season, voices are heard discussing what is best, studded or non-studded tyres. We therefore re- viewed test data for 44 studded, 31 Nordic non-studded and 11 Central European winter tyres to investigate what type of tyre works best in the winter in various parts of Sweden. The review assumed that there is a connection between braking distance and accident risk.
Our review shows that Nordic non-studded winter tyres are best adapted to the winter climate in southern and cen- tral Sweden. Although the braking distance is somewhat shorter with absolutely new studded tyres, it is most often bare ground in these parts of Sweden so that the studs are worn down and approach non-studded tyres after just a few years.
We can make a difference and help the customers
By analysing the injuries and damage that occur, we can provide advice on the best products and how one can pre- vent accidents and injuries. Another way is to integrate this knowledge into the insurance. Another example is that we have lower premiums for more environmentally sustaina- ble cars and motorcycles with ABS brakes. Yet another is that our home and auto insurance has the Good Environ- mental Choice ecolabel.
Motorcycles are an interesting area of research with large challenges. But our largest impact is within car and bicycle accidents where the most injuries are.
Matteo beginning with research was not a deliberate choice, but rather a desire to improve things. His interest in everything on wheels led him to the traffic field. His own interest in motorcycles has gone from riding as fast as possible to taking in the surroundings he passes.
Matteo Rizzi
Traffic safety researcher in Folksam
Background: Mechanical engineer and doctoral student in engineering science. Began riding a moped at the age of 14 and is a passionate collector of motorcycles.