TOWED VEHICLE CRASHES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

This report examines the literature and data on towing accidents in South Australia. The available literature is sparse. Crashes involving trailers and caravans tend to be more severe than car alone crashes. Rural crashes appear the most common in prior studies with an over-representation on weekends and public holidays. Night crashes and wet weather crashes are rare. Drivers are more likely to be male, older and more experienced than other crash involved drivers, although they do not necessarily have towing experience. In South Australia, towing crashes comprise about 2% of all crashes. They peak around Christmas and Easter and on Fridays and Saturdays. Sixty percent occur in urban areas, mechanical factors are rare, and most are on sealed roads. The larger the towing car or the trailer, the more severe the crash. Of the 4,600 crashes studied, small trailers were involved in 74% and caravans in only 10%. Certain crash types were more likely to involve an older experienced driver, e.g., failing to give way. Very few learner or probationary drivers were involved and alcohol did not appear to have been a common factor. A range of recommendations are made covering improved crash data, education, enforcement and vehicle design.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0730801969
• Corporate Authors:

  South Australia Department of Transport, Australia

  Office of Road Safety, PO Box 1
  Walkerville, South Australia 5081,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • McGann, A
• Publication Date: 1997-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 57 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aged drivers; Crashes; Drivers; Guides to the literature; Holidays; Knowledge; Literature reviews; Males; Rural areas; Towed vehicles; Traffic crashes; Trailers; Urban areas; Weekends
• Uncontrolled Terms: Experience
• Geographic Terms: South Australia
• Old TRIS Terms: Male drivers
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00742408
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• ISBN: 0730801969
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-042 499
• Files: HSL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 24 1997 12:00AM