Analysis of Risk Factors in Severity of Rural Truck Crashes

Trucks are a vital part of the logistics system in North Dakota. Recent energy developments have generated exponential growth in the demand for truck services. With increased density of trucks in the traffic mix, it is reasonable to expect some increase in the number of crashes. Analysis shows however, that the crash-injury risk associated with trucks cannot be explained solely with the traffic growth. Recent crash data has been analyzed to better understand characteristics and contributing factors in truck-involved crash events. Comparisons of truck-involved crashes to those not involving trucks show aspects of the crashes differ. In addition, multivariate models of three driver groups were defined, including truck drivers in multiple-vehicle crashes, other vehicle drivers in multiple-vehicle crashes, and truck drivers in single-vehicle crashes. Results reveal several predictors significantly associated with an increased likelihood for severe driver injury outcomes. Seat belt use was a significant predictor for severe injury likelihood in all models. Failure to stop or yield, rollover event, multiple truck involvement, curves and intersections were associated with increased likelihood for severe injury to truck drivers. Severe injury to other drivers in truck-involved crashes was associated with alcohol or drug involvement, head-on and sideswipe collisions, rollover event, weather and distracted driving. Findings largely were consistent with previous findings indicating some differences among driver group injury predictors. Understanding factors associated with increased likelihood for severe injury by driver group can encourage targeted interventions and countermeasures, which will them improve safety by reducing incidence of severe injury crashes involving trucks. Insight into truck crashes may allow drivers and businesses to identify areas for safety performance improvement.

• Record URL:
  https://www.ugpti.org/resources/reports/details.php?id=845
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/67953
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/30880
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute

  North Dakota State University
  1320 Albrecht Boulevard
  Fargo, ND  United States  581052

  Mountain-Plains Consortium

  North Dakota State University
  Fargo, ND  United States  58108

  Department of Transportation

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590

  Research and Innovative Technology Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Vachal, Kimberly
• Publication Date: 2016-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 38p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash characteristics; Crash data; Crash severity; Data analysis; Drivers; Injury severity; Multiple vehicle crashes; Rural areas; Single vehicle crashes; Truck crashes
• Geographic Terms: North Dakota
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01599272
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: MPC 16-308
• Contract Numbers: DTRT12-G-UTC08
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: May 20 2016 3:47PM