THE ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE OF YOUNGER TRUCK DRIVERS

The purpose of this project is to identify the special problems related to the high accident involvement of younger truck drivers and to suggest possible countermeasures. In this project, younger drivers are those in the 18-21 age group and the older drivers selected for comparison are ages 30-49. The project consisted of a driver survey, analysis of traffic violations, analysis of the accident record, and examination of police reports covering selected accident types. Though driver records and accident data were used primarily from Michigan, North Carolina data was also used as a supplement. Results indicated that young drivers had significantly more traffic violations than older drivers, with higher proportions of unsafe speed, reckless/careless, and failure to yield violations. Accident types with significant younger driver overinvolvement included single vehicle loss of control, rear end truck striking, and truck backed into other. Case review of accident reports showed problems with following too closely; failure to anticipate the actions of other road users; problems with vehicle control, as in low speed offtracking accidents; and possible attentional overload, as in some loss of control accidents.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute

  2901 Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109-2150

  Trucking Research Institute

  American Trucking Associations, Incorporated, 2200 Mill Road
  Alexandria, VA  United States  22314
• Authors:
  • Blower, D
• Publication Date: 1996-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 66 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Behavior; Drivers; Driving; High risk drivers; Loss of control; Rear end crashes; Reckless drivers; Single vehicle crashes; Tailgating; Teenage drivers; Traffic violations; Truck crashes; Truck drivers
• Old TRIS Terms: Careless driving; Loss of control accidents
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00724566
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: GLCTTR 81-96/1,, HS-042 210
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 13 1996 12:00AM