Exploring the Influence of Off-network and On-network Characteristics on Truck Crash Injury Severity
The presence of trucks in the traffic stream has a psychological influence on drivers in their vicinity due to their size, dimension, and operating characteristics. Truck crashes account for 11% of the traffic fatalities but are only 4.3% of the vehicles in the traffic stream. Trucking activity in a region is governed by its land use development, population, and area type. This research aims to examine the influence of off-network and on-network characteristics on truck crash injury severity to identify potential countermeasures. Crash data for Mecklenburg County for the years 2013 – 2017 was considered for analysis. Buffer analysis was performed to capture the land use and demographic data within the vicinity of each crash. The risk factors and their likelihood associated with the truck crash injury severity were identified using the backward elimination method in the partial proportionality odds model. The results indicate that dark lighting conditions, driver fatigue/impairment, the presence of a van, flatbed, or other semi-trailer, and driver inattention increase the likelihood of a severe or moderate injury truck crash. Further, the likelihood of a severe or moderate injury truck crash is high in commercial, industrial, recreational, and resource land uses. Contrarily, the likelihood of a severe or moderate injury truck crash is less in single family residential and office land uses. Potential countermeasures to reduce risk and enhance safety include truck signal priority, variable/dynamic speed limit signs for speed harmonization, truck traffic management strategies, incorporation of advanced driver warning/crash avoidance systems, education, and enforcement.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ACS60 Standing Committee on Truck and Bus Safety.
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Corporate Authors:
Transportation Research Board
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Authors:
- Duvvuri, Sarvani
- Mathew, Sonu
- Pulugurtha, Srinivas S
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2021-1-5 to 2021-1-29
- Date: 2021
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 20p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Automobiles; Crash causes; Crash data; Data analysis; Demographics; Drivers; Highway safety; Injury severity; Land use; Psychological aspects; Truck crashes; Vehicle mix
- Geographic Terms: Mecklenburg County (North Carolina)
- Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01764301
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: TRBAM-21-03669
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Feb 4 2021 11:00AM