Fracking-related Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Crash Risk

The combination of two energy extraction technologies, hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) and horizontal drilling, has transformed the U.S. energy system by providing a means of accessing natural gas and oil in tight shale formations. The consequent fracking boom has transformed the U.S. economy, especially in less developed geographic areas where tight shale formations are prevalent. Review of the literature and geospatial analysis of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) crash trends over time show an increase in CMV-involved crashes associated with fracking activity. This increase is not principally due to less safe carrier behavior, but rather to increased total volume of CMV traffic associated with fracking activity. This effect is most pronounced in areas where energy extraction had been declining and in less-developed areas with transportation infrastructure not designed to handle heavier CMV and other traffic. It is not possible to determine whether fracking-associated carriers require further regulation without more data.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56183
• Summary URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/56182
• Corporate Authors:

  Volpe National Transportation Systems Center

  Safety Management Systems Center of Innovation
  System Measurement and Analysis Division, 55 Broadway
  Cambridge, MA  United States  02142

  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

  Office of Analysis, Research, and Technology
  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Flynn, Daniel
  • Gillham, Olivia
  • Meltzer, Neil
• Publication Date: 2021-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 71p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commercial vehicles; Crash rates; Geospatial data; Hydraulic fracturing; Risk assessment; Spatial analysis; Trend (Statistics)
• Geographic Terms: North Dakota; Pennsylvania; Texas
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01776484
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FMCSA-RRR-18-011, DOT-VNTSC-FMCSA-18-03
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Jul 14 2021 1:43PM