TRAFFIC ENVIRONMENT, CAR AND DRIVER IN RELATIONSHIP TO LOSS OF DRIVING CONTROL IN HEAD-ON ACCIDENTS

In this study the background variables describing the causation of fatal accidents were analysed. The target was to clarify how certain factors relative to traffic environment, car and driver profile affected driving control during the damage situation and the possible manner and timing of the loss of control. The objective was also to describe the special features of the losses of driving control by different variable values and the way in which those who caused an accident by losing the control have differed from those who did not. The study was based on the on-scene investigation database of the Finnish Road Accident Investigation Teams from 1984 to 1993. The final sample was composed of the guilty passenger car participants of frontal accidents according to several independent variables.