NHTSA recently completed a logistic regression analysis updating its 2003 and 2010 studies of the relationship between vehicle mass and US fatality risk per vehicle mile traveled (VMT). The new study updates the previous analyses in several ways: updated FARS data from 2002 to 2008 for MY00 to MY07 vehicles are used
induced exposure data from police reported crashes in several additional states are added
a new vehicle category for car-based crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) and minivans is created
crashes with other light-duty vehicles are divided into two groups based on the crash partner vehicle?s weight, and a category for all other fatal crashes is added
and new control variables for new safety technologies and designs, such as electronic stability controls (ESC), side airbags, and methods to meet voluntary agreement to improve light truck compatibility with cars, are included.