European truck accident causation (ETAC): a scientific study: executive summary and recommendations

Only limited statistics are available regarding accidents involving trucks and even less is known about the cause of these accidents. To fill in this lack of knowledge, the European Commission (EC) and the International Road Transport Union (IRU) have undertaken a unique scientific study, the European Truck Accident Causation (ETAC) study. Knowing that there are many factors which contribute to an accident and knowing that those factors are interlinked, the aim of the study is to identify the main causes of accidents involving trucks. The study shows that human error is the main cause of 85.2 per cent of the studied cases. However, out of those 85.2 per cent, 75 per cent are caused by other road users and only 25 per cent by the truck driver. In-depth analysis shows that when the human being caused the accident, non-adapted speed, failure to observe intersection rules and improper maneuvering when changing lanes are the main cause. Truck load and fatigue play only a minor role. One of the concluding recommendations is that improving driver training and upgrading driving school programs are key to improve road safety.

• Record URL:
  http://www.iru.org/index/cms-filesystem-action?file=mix-publications/2007_ETACstudy.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  International Road Transport Union (IRU)

  Geneva,    

  European Union

  , Brussels   

  International Road Transport Union (IRU

  ,    
• Publication Date: 2007

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash analysis; Crash causes; Driver training; Drivers; Freight transportation; Heavy vehicles; Highway safety; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Freight transport logistics; Road safety (human factors)
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• ATRI Terms: Crash analysis; Crash cause; Driver training; Freight transport; Heavy vehicle driver; Road safety; Truck
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01387090
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 10:04PM