1996 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey. Volume 4, Crash Injury and Emergency Medical Services Report

Boyle, John M., 1947-; Dienstfrey, Stephen J. · 1997 · ROSA P / United States. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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Summary

This report presents findings from the 1996 Motor Vehicle Occupant Safety Survey, specifically focusing on crash injury experiences and public attitudes toward emergency medical services (EMS). Commissioned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and conducted by Schulman, Ronca & Bucuvalas, Inc., the study aims to assess public behavior, knowledge, and expectations regarding crash response. The data serves as a follow-up to a similar 1994 survey, allowing for trend analysis over a two-year period. The methodology involved 8,210 telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of individuals aged 16 and older, conducted between November 1996 and January 1997. The questionnaire was split into two versions, with EMS-related topics primarily in Version 2. Results were weighted to reflect the national population. Key findings indicate that 23% of the population had ever been injured in a vehicle crash requiring medical attention. Among those injured, 73% were treated in hospital emergency rooms, and 26% were hospitalized for at least one night. Seatbelt use significantly reduced hospitalization rates, with 20% of belted drivers hospitalized compared to 31% of unbelted drivers. Regarding bystander behavior, 52% of respondents reported no concerns about stopping to help at a crash scene. However, concerns varied by demographic: females were more concerned than males about personal safety and lack of knowledge, while college graduates expressed significantly more hesitation than those with less education. The most common barriers to stopping were fear of scams, lack of assistance knowledge, and liability concerns. Conversely, 98% of respondents stated they would call for help if stopping was unsafe, with phone availability being the primary barrier for the remaining 2%. The report also highlights technological and knowledge trends. Only 30% of respondents had access to a car or cellular phone, with availability strongly correlated with higher education levels. Public awareness of the acronym "EMS" was limited, and expectations for ambulance arrival times varied by community type. Despite these gaps, confidence in emergency workers remained high. The study concludes by noting trends from 1994 to 1996, suggesting that while crash injury rates remained stable, public engagement with EMS systems and willingness to assist showed nuanced shifts based on demographic factors and technological access.

Key finding

Females and college graduates were significantly more likely to express concerns about stopping to help at a crash scene than males and individuals with less education.

Methodology

survey

Sample size: 8210

Provenance

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Summary generated by qwen3.6-27b-prismaquant on 2026-06-10; verification: verified.

Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• demographic disparities
• post crash care delays

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: observational prevalence, crash risk outcomes