What can be done to reduce the likelihood and severity of injuries when rollovers occur?
Safety belt use is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of injury or death in a rollover.9 Sixty-seven percent of people killed in passenger vehicle rollover crashes in 2008 were unbelted. Without safety belts, occupants in vehicles that roll can be thrown from the vehicle, greatly increasing the risk of serious injury or death. When occupants are contained in the vehicle during a rollover, the performance of restraint systems and structural components is crucial to preventing injury. Head-protecting side curtain airbags triggered by rollover sensors can prevent the upper body from contacting the ground and also prevent occupants from being ejected from the vehicle. Good safety belt designs are important to hold occupants in their seats and away from the roof as much as possible. Finally, the roof and other vehicle structures must be strong enough to resist occupant compartment intrusion that can increase the risk of head and neck injury.
