MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS WITH TREES ALONG HIGHWAYS, ROADS, AND STREETS: AN ASSESSMENT

The National Transportation Safety Board has studied extensive data collected regarding vehicle collisions with trees, has investigated 19 accidents involving trees, and as a result has determined certain characteristics of such collisions. In addition, the Safety Board reviewed information supplied by seven States regarding accident data, roadside obstacle programs, and tree removal or protection programs. About 3,280 fatalities resulting from vehicle collisions with trees occur annually in the United States. NCSS data showed that vehicle accidents with trees are more severe than other frontal collisions and that when passengers fail to use restraints, fatalities may occur at speeds as low as 16 to 20 mph. The Safety Board found that few projects exist to remove or protect roadside trees, and that minimal delineation or warning signs existed at some of the accident locations. To reduce the number and severity of vehicle collisions with trees, the Safety Board has recommended implementing programs to warn motorists of the changes in roadway alignment and to protect or selectively remove roadside trees.

• Corporate Authors:

  National Transportation Safety Board

  800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20594
• Publication Date: 1981-5-13

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: 74 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash injury research; Crash reports; Crash severity; Crashes; Data analysis; Fatalities; Frontal crashes; Maintenance; Mathematical analysis; Motor vehicles; Prevention; Research; Safety; Single vehicle crashes; Trees; Warning systems
• Subject Areas: Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; I81: Accident Statistics; I82: Accidents and Transport Infrastructure;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00344111
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: NTSB-HSS-81-1, HS-032 489
• Files: HSL, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1982 12:00AM