Fatal falls and jumps from motor vehicles.

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Abstract
In 1978, 345 persons were killed in the USA in jumps and falls from non-crashing motor vehicles: 64% fell; 15% jumped; and it was not known whether the other 21% jumped or fell. Of these people, 201 had been traveling on the exterior of vehicles, especially trunk beds, and almost all of these people fell from their vehicles. The other 144 fatalities involved people in passenger compartments. Many falls from compartments occurred when occupants opened doors or when vehicles changed direction. Of those who fell from passenger compartments, 77% were males and 44% were less than 5 yr old. Among those who jumped from vehicle compartments, 62% were women and all were older than 14 yr. Fatal falls and jumps from vehicles could be reduced in a variety of ways. These include legislation to prohibit travel on vehicle exteriors, designing vehicles so that doors cannot be opened when in motion, improving door designs, installing signals that provide warning if doors are not closed completely and using occupant restraints.