Fatal car fires from rear-end crashes: the effects of fuel tank placement before and after regulation.
A federal standard for fuel tank integrity in cars was applied to 1977 and subsequent models. National data indicate that fatalities per 10,000 occupants in rear-end crashes of small cars, where fire was the most harmful event, were reduced by approximately 57% if the fuel tank was located behind the rear axle and 77% if the tank was situated directly above or in front of the rear axle.
Robertson
L S
LS
Nanlee Research, Branford, CT 06405.
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000401:mortality*; D001336:Automobiles / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000592:standards; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D012449:Safety; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology