Crash Studies May Provide Framework for Regulations
What causes crashes involving trucks? A state-level study released three years ago by the University of Michigan found 70% of 5,500 fatal car-truck accidents examined by the university’s Transportation Research Institute were the fault of the automobile driver, not the truck driver.But the 1999 report, while setting a pattern for further work, was limited by its geography. Researchers wanted to cast a much wider net in an attempt to come to grips with the human, mechanical and environmental factors that set cars and trucks on a collision course.
New projects, involving the federal government and the trucking industry, are expected to shine a scientific light on crash causes, and the results may well provide the framework for future regulatory initiatives that could have important effects on industry practices.
For the full story, see the Jan. 7 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.