THE EFFECT OF PASSENGER LOAD ON UNSTABLE VEHICLES IN FATAL, UNTRIPPEDROLLOVER CRASHES

Consumers may be unaware of the risk of rollover crashes posed by pass enger loads in vehicles with poor roll stability. This analysis demons trates that certain sports utility vehicles and small pickup trucks ha ve designs that are so unstable that the weight of the passengers in t he vehicle affects its propensity to roll over. This effect occurs eve n though the weight of the loaded vehicle is less than the manufacture r's gross vehicle weight rating. The risk of a fatal, ''untripped'' ro llover crash in vehicles with low roll stability is increased as each passenger is added to the vehicle load.