VEHICLES IN WATER: A RE-ORIENTATION OF THE PROBLEM OF VEHICLES FALLING IN THE WATER
AUTO'S TE WATER: EEN HERORIENTATIE OP DE PROBLEMATIEK ROND HET TE WATER RAKEN VAN PERSONENAUTO'S
The number and type of accidents involving vehicles falling into water has changed little since it was last reported. However, since 1970, the number of fatalities caused by this kind of accident have decreased from 90 to about 50 per year. This is due to some modifications in car design (bigger windows, fifth door, motor in front) and by constructing safety fences along water sides on dangerous spots. Using two examples of such safety constructions, a mathematical model can be made for calculating the cost-effectiveness of such a construction. An inventory should be made of all relevant characteristics of the locations where vehicles have fallen into the water. Regional registration seems to be the most appropriate method of doing this.
TRT Terms: Cost effectiveness; Crashes; Fatalities; Fences; Guardrails; High risk locations; Mathematical models; Vehicles; Water