The effect of recent trends in vehicle design on U.S. societal fatality risk per vehicle mile traveled, and their projected future relationship with vehicle mass.

Highlights: [•] The effect three recent trends in vehicle design had on US fatality risk is investigated. [•] Side airbags reduce risk in cars, but not trucks or CUVs/minivans, struck in the side. [•] Better alignment of truck bumpers reduces risk in their crash partners. [•] Neither is expected to change the current relationship between vehicle mass and risk. [•] Shifting light truck drivers into cars lowers risk more than large reductions in mass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]