The identification of the manner in which two motor vehicles in transport initially came together without regard to the direction of force. This data element refers only to crashes where the first harmful event involves a collision between two motor vehicles in transport.
Important for evaluation of occupant injuries and structural defects. This data element can be used in conjunction with Motor Vehicle Maneuver/Action (V18) to describe the crash.
Front to Rear - The front end of one vehicle collides with the back of another vehicle, while the two vehicles are traveling in the same direction.
Front to Rear - INCLUDES Example Below
Front to Rear - EXCLUDES Example Below (This would be Rear to Side)
Front to Front: The front end of one vehicle collides with the front end of another vehicle, while the two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions.
Angle - A crash where two motor vehicles impact at an angle. For example, the front of one motor vehicle impacts the side of another motor vehicle.
*Note - In the Second Edition of MMUCC there were four separate attributes for "Angle" crashes. They were split into same direction, opposite direction, right angle, and direction not specified attributes.
(Front-to-Side Same Direction from FARS Coding Manual): angle crashes where the front of one vehicle contacts at any point along the side of another in the first harmful event and the orientation of the vehicles at impact is in the same direction. This does not include right angles or broadside crashes.
(Front-to-Side Opposite Direction from FARS Coding Manual): angle crashes where the front of one vehicle contacts at any point along the side of another in the first harmful event and the orientation of the vehicles at impact is in the opposite direction. This does not include right angles or broadside crashes.
(Front-to-Side Right Angle from FARS Coding Manual): is used for roadside or T-Bone crashes in which front-to-side contact is made, and the vehicles are at a right-angle position. The front of one vehicle can make contact anywhere along the side of the other, not just at Clockpoints 3 or 9.
Sideswipe Same Direction: Two vehicles traveling in the same direction impact one another where the initial engagement does not overlap the corner of either vehicle so that there is no significant involvement of the front or rear surface areas. The impact then swipes along the surface of the vehicle parallel to the direction of travel.
(Sideswipe Same Direction from FARS Coding Manual): is used when the initial engagement does not overlap the corner of either vehicle so that there is no significant involvement of the front or rear surface areas. There is no pocketing of the impact in the suspension areas as the impact swipes along the surface of the vehicle parallel to the direction of travel. There is a low retardation of force along the surface of the vehicle. This must be true for both vehicles involved in the collision.
Sideswipe Opposite Direction: Two vehicles traveling in the opposite direction impact one another where the initial engagement does not overlap the corner of either vehicle so that there is no significant involvement of the front or rear surface areas. The impact then swipes along the surface of the vehicle parallel to the direction of travel..
(Sideswipe Opposite Direction from FARS Coding Manual): is used when the initial engagement does not overlap the corner of either vehicle so that there is no significant involvement of the front or rear surface areas. There is no pocketing of the impact in the suspension areas as the impact swipes along the surface of the vehicle parallel to the direction of travel. There is a low retardation of force along the surface of the vehicle. This must be true for both vehicles involved in the collision.
Rear to Side: The rear of a vehicle, and not the front, makes contact with the side of another. This can happen when a vehicle backs up into the side of another vehicle.
Rear to Rear: The rear of a vehicle makes contact with the 'rearof another. This can happen when two vehicles are backing up.
This impact type could occur as in the first example below where the car loses control and spins 180 degrees impacting the rear of the truck.
Another possible scenario would be two vehicles backing from roadside parking and impacting rear-to-rear.
(Other from FARS Coding Manual): is used for collisions where one vehicle's end swipes (end-swipe) another vehicle instead of their sides swiping. Also, this attribute should be used for any collision between two motor vehicles where the collision is not described by the other attributes.
Examples include:
When one vehicle is airborne and makes contact with its front to the other vehicle's hood or top.
Cargo or other load on one motor vehicle in transport shifts an lands or is thrown onto/into another vehicle.
A vehicle occupant or motorcyclist falls or is thrown from a vehicle striking or is struck by another vehicle.
