Citation

Council F, Hall WL. Proc. Assoc. Adv. Automot. Med. Annu. Conf. 1989; 33: 91-109.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1989, Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Large truck safety issues are of growing concern due to continuing increases in both truck usage and truck size. In this study, North Carolina accident data from 1981-87 were analyzed relative to vehicle, driver and roadway-related issues. Major findings indicate that bobtails (tractors without trailers) are overrepresented in accidents and in high-risk situations involving alcohol usage and violations of certain types; that twins are overrepresented in rollover accidents and loss-of-control accidents, and that infrequent, but continuing, instances of second trailer separation occur prior to a collision; that the severity of driver injury is heightened for tanker drivers; that the overall use of alcohol is low among non-bobtail drivers; and that the interchange ramp accident problem may be more related to the ramp ends rather than the ramp proper. Finally, there is the continuing, unaddressed, need for the development of a well-design truck exposure data collection system to allow safety researchers to provide sound information for current and future safety issues.