Estimating the Off-Network Presence of STAA Dimensioned Vehicles on North Carolina Roadways Using CMV Crash Data, 2001-2005

The present study used commercial motor vehicle crash data from North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT’s) Traffic Engineering Accident Analysis System (TEAAS) to infer the presence and relative extent of Surface Transportation Assistance Act (STAA) dimensioned vehicles operating beyond the three-mile buffer of the present STAA Truck Network in North Carolina. STAA dimensioned vehicles include trailers 53 feet or greater in length and double trailers. STAA routes in North Carolina constitute only about eight percent of all state-maintained roadway miles. The data showed that approximately 87 percent of all large truck crashes took place on STAA network roads during the period 2001-2005. While only 13 percent of large truck involved crashes took place on roads ‘off’ the network, the likelihood of any given off-network crash involving a fatality was twice that of a crash taking place on the network. Off network crashes involving large trucks are problematic for reasons other than safety, especially in metropolitan areas where operations, irrespective of crash involvement, are associated with traffic delays (due to the maneuvering/turning requirements of larger vehicles) and infrastructure damage. The report provides GIS ‘maps’ of each of the eight North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) troop areas, the network and its three-mile buffer and the location and severity of all large truck-involved crashes reported as taking place ‘off’ the network. The report also provides a detailed description of the attributes of off-network crashes for 2001-2005 for each NCSHP troop. Several criteria were explored as a means for ranking troop areas in terms of need for STAA improvements. The report also identifies specific off-network routes at the county and troop levels having the highest numbers of crashes per mile. Recommendations are provided for ‘next steps’ as well as a plan for technology transfer and implementation.

• Record URL:
  https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/Pages/ProjDetails.aspx?ProjectID=2007-14B
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  North Carolina State University, Raleigh

  Institute for Transportation Research and Education, Centennial Campus, 909 Capability Drive
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27695

  North Carolina Department of Transportation

  Research and Analysis Group, 1 South Wilmington Street
  Raleigh, NC  United States  27601

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Hughes, Ronald G
  • Scott, Jeremy
  • Ferrara, Greg
• Publication Date: 2008-5-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 94p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commercial vehicles; Crash severity; Crashes; Networks; Size; Trucks
• Identifier Terms: North Carolina Department of Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Surface Transportation Assistance Act
• Subject Areas: Highways; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01115361
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/NC/2007-14
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 25 2008 7:32AM