Characteristics of Heavy Truck Accidents (original) (raw)

Road class and large truck involvements in fatal accidents

1987

The data that have been collected by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute through a follow-up on large trucks involved in fatal accidents provide the opportunity to examine the relationship between road class and fatal accident involvement. The fatal accident involvement rate per mile travelled for combination trucks is calculated from University of Michigan and Federal Highway ~dministration data. The rate is higher on rural non-interstates than on the other road types. For the rest of the report, a four-way breakdown of road class is examined. This categorizes roads into urban and rural and divided and undivided. Significant differences in the distribution of accident factors are observed between road classes. This has important implications for the selection of accident countermeasures in that a countermeasure is unlikely to reduce involvements equally on all classes of road. Certain types of accident, seemingly involving fatigue, are observed to be relatively more common at dawn; however, this fatigue cannot be attributed to exhaustion after long hours of driving. 17. Kay Wrdm Medium trucks, heavy trucks, accidents, road type 18. Distribution Statom-* Unlimited 19. Sawrity Classif. (a# this-1 None a. kwity Clamsif.

Traffic conditions and truck accidents on urban freeways

2004

ABSTRACT Our objective is to determine how various types of truck accidents are related to traffic flow conditions and roadway characteristics on urban freeways. The case study involves data on 19,000 accidents that occurred over two years on six freeways in Orange County, an urbanized area of Southern California; over 10% of these accidents involved trucks with at least six wheels on the road.

An analysis of the severity and incident duration of truck-involved freeway accidents

Accident Analysis and Prevention, 1987

Data associated with over 9000 accidents involving large trucks and combination vehicles during a two-year period on freeways in the greater Los Angeles area are analyzed relative to collision factors, accident severity, and incident duration and lane closures. Relationships between type of collision and accident characteristics are explored using log-linear models. The results point to significant differences in several immediate consequences of truck-related freeway accidents according to collision type. These differences are associated both with the severity of the accident, in terms of injuries and fatalities, as well as with the impact of the accident on system performance, in terms of incident duration and lane closures. Hit-object and broadside collisions were the most severe types in terms of fatalities and injuries, respectively, and single-vehicle accidents are relatively more severe than two-vehicle accidents. The durations of accident incidents were found to be log-normally distributed for homogeneous groups of truck accidents, categorized according to type of collision and, in some instances, severity. The longest durations are typically associated with overturns.

An Analysis of Fatal Large Truck Crashes

The objective of this study by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) was to examine the characteristics of large truck fatal crashes. Fatal crashes involving single-unit trucks and combination trucks were studied. Two-vehicle crashes consisting of a large truck and one other vehicle were examined for vehicle-related factors and driver-related factors. Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 1996-2000 and from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute's Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents Survey (TIFA), characteristics of large truck crashes, including rollovers and jackknifes were analyzed.

TRUCK-INVOLVED CRASHES AND TRAFFIC LEVELS ON URBAN FREEWAYS

Using two years of crash and average annual daily traffic data we examine the locations and conditions linked to truck-involved crashes (accidents). A binomial logit model is used to describe how the probability that a crash involves a truck is a function of the percentage of annual average daily traffic that is accounted for by trucks, time of day, day of the week, weather conditions, mix of truck types, and the absolute level of average annual daily traffic. That model can then be used to identify locations with higher or lower than expected truck involved accident rates, controlling for all of the factors that influence truck crash rates. A multinomial logit model was then estimated in order to better understand patterns of truck-involved crashes by separating crashes by type, with the main types being rear-end, lane-change, and run-off collisions. We propose that results from applications of these kinds of models, applied in a specific region, can be useful to public agencies seeking to identify and remedy problem areas either with better driver education or investments in physical or intelligent transportation system infrastructure.

Causal Analysis of Accident Involvements for the Nation's Large Trucks and Combination Vehicles

Transportation Research Record, 1985

The chance of accident involvements of the Interstate Commerce Commission-authorized, large, single-unit trucks and tractor-trailers was investigated using the 1977 Bureau of Motor Carrier Safety accident and the Highway Cost Allocation Study exposure data. The model used was discrete-multivariate and capable of simultaneously analyzing both the accidents and the exposure. The variables that were found to be important predictors of accident involvements include trailer style, vehicle configuration, number of axles of power unit, trip length, road class, road surface condition, loading status, day/night, driver experience, and driver age. Particularly high accident involvement rates, of 200 involvements per 10 to the 8th power mi or higher, were shown by all van singles in local service, 3-axle-tractor singles in local service, 2-axle straight trucks in local service, and flatbed doubles in over-the-road service. Low accident involvement rates, less than 50 involvements per 10 to the...

CURS Report No . 2003-04 Understanding the Role of TruckDriver , Occupational and High-Risk Roadway Factors in Truck-Involved Collisions

2003

Society pays a high cost for work zone crashes in terms of operational disruptions, property damage, injuries and loss of life. Given narrow lanes in work zones, large trucks are of particular concern. This paper empirically examines truck-involved collisions, comparing them to non truck-involved collisions in North Carolina work zones. The paper helps understand which work zone attributes are statistically associated with the most seriously injured occupant and total harm in the crash. Specifically, the role of several new work zone variables is explored. They include the type of work zone, presence of warning signs and cones, type of activity in the work zone, location of the crash in the work zone, construction impact of the wok zone on the roadway and the type of work being done. These variables were obtained from a unique dataset based on a revised North Carolina accident form that included new work zone variables and additional coding of variables from the crash report narrati...

Trucks involved in fatal accidents, 1980-82 (Version November 16, 1984)

1985

The research reported herein was conducted under general research funds provided by the Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association, the Western Highway Institute, and the American Trucking Associations. The opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the MVMA, WHI, or ATA. iii 3. Roccptml's Cacoloq Me. 5. Rmporc Dete Januar 9 5 pwbmiw oYml a a : m Co& 8. P A y Or0.lrctdion R .) r t No.

Truck-truck fatal accidents, 1980-82 (Version February 5, 1985)

Deep Blue (University of Michigan), 1985

This f i l e describes a l l two-vehicle f a t a l accidents involving two medlum o r heavy trucks. In describing the medium o r heavy trucks, t h e f i l e combines t h e coverage of t h e FARS d a t a with t h e d e t a i l of t h e BMCS data. Where no BMCS r e p o r t could be found f o r an appropriate medium o r heavy truck l i s t e d by FARS, UMTRI conducted a survey, by telephone interview o r by mail, t o o b t a i n t h e desired information on ownership, type of t r i p , vehicle configuration, cargo, weights, and lengths. Overall, a t o t a l of 173 f a t a l accidents involving two medium o r heavy trucks occurred i n