V8: Motor Vehicle Body Type Category

Definition:

The category indicating the general configuration or shape of a motor vehicle distinguished by characteristics such as number of doors, rows of seats, windows, or roof line.

Element Attributes

Passenger Car
(Sport) Utility Vehicle
Passenger Van
Cargo Van (10,000 lbs. Or less)
Pickup
Motor Home
School Bus
Transit Bus
Motor Coach
Other Bus
Motorcycle
Moped
Low Speed Vehicle
All Terrain Vehicle (ATV)
Snowmobile
Other Light Trucks (10,000 lbs. Or less)
Medium/Heavy Trucks (more than 10,000 lbs.)
Other (e.g., farm equipment, heavy machinery)

Rationale:

Important to identify the specific type of motor vehicle involved in the crash for evaluation and comparison purposes.

Passenger Car/Vehicle - Motor vehicles used primarily for carrying passengers.

Automobile (from ANSI D-16.1) - An automobile is a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, utility vehicle or low speed vehicle consisting of a transport device typically designed for carrying eight or fewer persons. Automobiles may be classified by size or weight, or both. Size classification is based on wheelbase. Weight classification is based on curb weight, the weight of an automobile with standard equipment and a full complement of fuel and other fluids, but with no load of persons or property. Before classification, wheelbase should be rounded to the nearest inch and curb weight should be rounded to the nearest 100 pounds.

Passenger Car Body Types (from FARS Coding Manual):

Convertible (excludes sun-roof, t-bar)
2-door sedan, hardtop, coupe
3-door/2-door hatchback
4-door sedan, hardtop
5-door/4-door hatchback
Station wagon (excluding van and truck based)

Automobile Derivatives:

Auto-based pickup (includes El Camino, Caballero, Ranchero, Chevrolet - SSR; Subaru - Brat, Baha; Volkswagen - Rabbit Pickup)
Auto-based panel (cargo station wagon, auto-based ambulance or hearse)
Large limousine - more than four side doors or stretch chasis
Three-wheel automobile or automobile derivative

Sport Utility Vehicle any utility vehicle other than a pickup body style.

(Sport) Utility Vehicle (from ANSI D-16.1): - A utility vehicle is a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or large bus consisting primarily of a transport device designed for carrying persons, and generally considered a multi-purpose vehicle that is designed to have off-road capabilities. These vehicles are generally four-wheel-drive (4 x 4) and have increased ground clearance. A utility vehicle typically has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less. Utility vehicles with wheelbases greater than 88 inches are classified by overall width. The wheelbase and overall width should be rounded to the nearest inch.

Sport Utility Vehicle Examples:

Small: GMC Jimmy
Midsize: Jeep Cherokee
Full Size: Chevy Suburban
Large: Hummer

Passenger Van a van body style that is configured to carry people.

Clarification: Van (from ANSI D-16.1): A van is a motor vehicle consisting primarily of a transport device which has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less and is basically a “box on wheels” that is identifiable by its enclosed passenger and/or cargo area, step-up floor, and relatively short (or non-existent) hood. Vans are classified by size based on frame type and overall vehicle body width. Before classification, vehicle width should be rounded to the nearest inch.

Clarification: Passenger Van (from ANSI D-16.1): A passenger van is any van where the area behind the driver or cab is designed for carrying passengers.

Passenger Van Used as School Bus

Diagram of express seating configuration

Cargo Van (10, 000 lbs. or less) – A cargo van is any van where the area behind the driver or cab is designed for transporting cargo or operated for general commercial use.

Important Note - Vans with a GVWR greater than 10,000 lbs. would be classified as Medium/Heavy Trucks (see attribute list).

The actual GVWR of the vehicle in the photo is between 16,000 – 19,000 lbs. This will be picked up under Cargo Body Type as Van/Enclosed Box.

Pickups - any utility vehicle identifiable by a body style consisting of an open cargo area bed behind the cab.

Utility Vehicle (from ANSI D-16.1): - A utility vehicle is a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle or large bus consisting primarily of a transport device designed for carrying persons, and generally considered a multi-purpose vehicle that is designed to have off-road capabilities. These vehicles are generally four-wheel-drive (4 x 4) and have increased ground clearance. A utility vehicle typically has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or less. Utility vehicles with wheelbases greater than 88 inches are classified by overall width. The wheelbase and overall width should be rounded to the nearest inch.

Pickup - Examples:

Small: Chevy S-10
Midsize: Nissan Frontier
Full Size: Ford F350
Large: Ford F450 Super Duty

Motor Home A van where a frame-mounted recreational unit is added behind the driver or cab area or mounted on a bus/truck chassis that is suitable to live in and drive across the country.

School Bus examples of this body style include full size and van-based school bus configurations (see photos below). Also included are those without the standard school bus?color and markings but still having this configuration. (e.g. a full size school bus painted blue and used by a church.)

Van Based" Configured School Bus

Full Size School Bus Body Style

Transit Bus a bus body type designed for public transportation typically within a city.

Motor Coach bus designed to travel long distances between cities.

Bus (as related to FMCSA Elements see: Vehicle Configuration, Cargo Body Type) a motor vehicle consisting primarily of a transport device designed for carrying more than eight persons per the regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Other Bus - a vehicle designed/converted to carry eight or more people with a body type other than that of a school bus, motor coach, or transit bus. Includes vehicles such as: Vans specially configured as bus body type such as; Cab-chassis seating greater than 8 people, specially configured buses (tour buses).

Motorcycle - A two- or three-wheeled motor vehicle designed to transport one or two people. Included are motor scooters, mini-bikes, and mopeds.

Moped (from ANSI D-16.1) a speed-limited motor-driven cycle (motorcycle) which may be propelled by pedaling.

Low Speed Vehicle – A low speed vehicle (LSV) is a motor vehicle with four or more wheels whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour, but not greater than 25 miles per hour. LSVs are required to be equipped with basic items of safety equipment: headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps, tail lamps, reflex reflectors, parking brake, windshields of either type AS-1 or type AS-5 glazing, rearview mirrors, seat belts and vehicle identification numbers (VINs).

Low Speed Vehicle (from NHTSA) - a vehicle having a top speed of 20 to 25 mph. Any golf cart or other four-wheeled motorized vehicle with a top speed in that range qualifies for the class.

Excluded from Low Speed Vehicle are Pedestrian Conveyances (See P3 Person Type) such as: motorized wheelchairs, motorized skateboards, motorized handicapped scooters, and personal devices such as the Segway.