SAFER TRUCK TRAVEL. DRAFT FINAL REPORT

The objective of this project was to produce detailed strategies that PennDOT can use to address the problems resulting from improper actions on the part of truck drivers, motor carriers, and operators of other vehicles that share the Commonwealth's roadways with trucks. The Pennsylvania Transportation Institute's (PTI's) role in this project was to develop preliminary strategies based on (1) the findings of previous research in the field, (2) analysis of current accident data, (3) a questionnaire survey of truck drivers concerning safety issues in the trucking industry, and (4) the experience and opinions of acknowledged experts on motor carrier and truck safety. These findings will be used by the prime contractor, Kelly Michener, Inc., who will integrate them with the results of several focus group discussions to produce the detailed strategies required to address the problems identified. The project report contains two volumes. This volume (Volume II) describes the project methodology and findings in detail; Volume I is an executive summary of the overall report. Chapters 1 and 2 provide a summary and an introduction, respectively. Chapter 3 presents the results of a literature review. Chapter 4 presents the results of four focus groups ("good" truck drivers, "problem" truck drivers, motor carrier management, and auto drivers) conducted as part of this study. Chapter 5 reports the results of a series of "expert interviews" conducted to collect information regarding current issues in motor carrier safety and to identify potential strategies to address truck safety problems. Chapter 6 provides a brief summary and analysis of data concerning truck accidents that occurred in Pennsylvania between 1985 and 1989. Chapter 7 contains the findings of a survey of truck drivers conducted as part of this study. Chapter 8 is a short assessment of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program inspection function and how it can be used to mitigate high-risk driver actions and other truck-related safety issues. Chapter 9 is a synthesis of the study results. Chapter 10 concludes the report by summarizing the study findings and providing recommendations to address the high-risk actions of truck drivers and the factors involved in car-truck collisions.

• Corporate Authors:

  Pennsylvania State University, University Park

  Pennsylvania Transportation Institute, Transportation Research Building
  University Park, PA  United States  16802

  Kelly Michener, Incorporated

  416-418 W Marion Street, P.O. Box 959
  Lancaster, PA  United States  17603

  Pennsylvania Department of Transportation

  1215 Transportation and Safety Building
  Harrisburg, PA  United States  17120
• Authors:
  • Mason Jr, J M
  • Patten, M L
  • Plummer Jr, C W
  • Micsky, R J
• Publication Date: 1991-11-7

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 346 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crashes; Data analysis; Data collection; Expert evidence; Guides to the literature; Heavy vehicles; Highway safety; Human factors; Literature reviews; Mathematical analysis; Motor carriers; Questionnaires; Recommendations; Risk taking; Surveys; Traffic mitigation; Truck drivers; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Mitigation
• Old TRIS Terms: Expert testimony; Motor carrier safety assistance program
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00619278
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: PTI 9219, Res Proj 90-14
• Files: TRIS, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Feb 29 1992 12:00AM