Evaluation of 2009 New York Crash Data Reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash File

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of New York. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the New York crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Because all levels of the MCMIS crash file reporting criteria could not be applied, the evaluation of reporting completeness was restricted to crashes that involved either a fatality or an injury transported for immediate medical attention. Of these crashes, an estimated 36.7 percent were properly reported. Reporting rates were found to be related to crash severity and the configuration of the vehicle. Over 82 percent of fatal crash involvements were reported, but only 34.6 percent of injury/transported involvements. Crashes in which a vehicle was towed due to disabling damage could not be identified in the New York crash data supplied, so reporting rates for that subset cannot be estimated. Trucks were reported at a slightly higher rate than buses. Large trucks, especially truck tractors, were reported at a higher rate than smaller trucks. Missing data rates are low for most variables. Corresponding data elements in the MCMIS and New York crash files were quite consistent, though specific problems were noted with respect to one truck configuration. The timeliness of reporting was good, with about 91 percent of records submitted to the MCMIS file within 90 days of the crash.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89602/1/102794.pd

Evaluation of 2008 Rhode Island crash data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash File

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of Rhode Island. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Rhode Island crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. It is estimated that that Rhode Island reported 75.0% of reportable crash involvements in 2008. The most decisive factor identified in predicting reporting was whether the Truck/Bus Crash Report Supplemental form was completed. Over 95% of reportable cases with this form completed were reported, compared with no records where the officer did not fill out the form. Missing data rates are low for most variables. Corresponding data elements in the MCMIS and Rhode Island crash files were reasonably consistent, though specific problems were noted with hazmat variables and the truck and trailer configuration.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89601/1/102793.pd

Survey of the status of truck safety: Brazil, China, Australia, and the United States

This report reviews the status of truck safety in four countries, Australia, Brazil, China, and the United States. The report describes the role of road freight transportation in each country; characterizes the current level of safety; and identifies the primary safety problems related to trucks within each country. Vehicle populations in Australia and the US are currently relatively similar, but both China and Brazil have a much higher reliance on motorcycles and nonmotorized transportation. Truck crash rates also vary among the countries, higher in Brazil and China, lower in the US and Australia. Primary safety issues in China and Brazil are interactions with two-wheeled vehicles and nonmotorists. Interactions with passenger cars and other light-duty vehicles are a greater issue in Australia and the US. Common issues include driver fatigue and hours of service, vehicle condition, and issues related to truck size and weight. Crash and vehicle population data available for this study varied widely in accessibility, comprehensiveness, and detail. Improved crash data are particularly important issues in China and Brazil.The University of Michigan Sustainable Worldwide Transportationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90952/1/102856.pd

Evaluation of 2008 Alaska crash data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash File

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of Alaska. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Alaska crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. It is estimated that Alaska reported 62.4 percent of this subset of reportable crash involvements in 2008. Reporting rates were found primarily to be related to crash severity and the configuration of the vehicle. Eighty percent of fatal crash involvements were reported, 73.9% of injured/transported, and 58.7 percent of towed/disabled involvements. Trucks were reported at about the same rate as buses as a whole, 61.4% to 66.0%. Large trucks such as tractor-semitrailers were reported at a higher rate than smaller single unit trucks. Missing data rates are low for most variables. Corresponding data elements in the MCMIS and Alaska crash files were reasonably consistent,Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89599/1/102791.pd

Evaluation of 2007 Montana crash data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash File

This report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of Montana. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Montana crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. It is estimated that that Montana reported 81.0 percent of reportable crash involvements in 2007. Reporting rates were found to be related to crash severity, the configuration of the vehicle, and the type of enforcement agency that covered the crash. Over 97 percent of fatal crash involvements were reported, 80.2 percent of injury/transported involvements, and 80.2 percent of towed/disabled involvements. Trucks were reported at a significantly higher rate than buses. Large trucks, especially truck tractors, were reported at a higher rate than smaller trucks. Missing data rates are low for most variables. Corresponding data elements in the MCMIS and Montana crash files were reasonably consistent, though specific problems were noted with respect to some variables. The timeliness of report was outstanding, with almost 99 percent of records submitted to the MCMIS file within 90 days of the crash.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89596/1/102788.pd

Evaluation of 2010 Delaware crash data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System Crash File

Special reportThis report is part of a series evaluating the data reported to the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) Crash File undertaken by the Center for National Truck and Bus Statistics at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The earlier studies showed that reporting to the MCMIS Crash File was incomplete. This report examines the factors that are associated with reporting rates for the State of Delaware. MCMIS Crash File records were matched to the Delaware crash file to determine the nature and extent of underreporting. Overall, it is estimated that, for 2010, 71.6% of reportable crash involvements were reported. All fatal crash involvements were correctly reported. Reporting rates were lower for less severe collisions: 66.6% of injured/transported crashes and 76.6% of towed/disabled crashes were reported. Recognition by the reporting officer that a vehicle was a CMV was important, though no single factor was identified that explained the overall reporting rate. Missing data rates are low for most variables. Corresponding data elements in the MCMIS and Delaware crash files were reasonably consistent, though specific problems were noted with respect to the MCMIS truck configuration variable. Over one-quarter of the records were inconsistent on this variable. Improvements in training to may address this issue. Only about 53 percent of records were submitted to the MCMIS file within 90 day post-crash period requirement.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/90844/1/102853.pd

Evaluation of the records management system for the Michigan Center for Truck Safety

This report documents the development of recommendations for a record-keeping system to help the Michigan Center for Truck Safety monitor and document their training activities easily, accurately, consistently, and securely, and to improve the reliability of the data for evaluations of the Center’s programs. The Center’s existing database and structure were reviewed, and the Center’s staff was interviewed about their use of the database system. It is recommended that the Center retain but enhance its existing Microsoft Access Database Management System. The services of a Microsoft Access programmer are recommended to add validity checks and input masks for data input, to develop templates for standard reports, and to develop a set of frequently-used queries. Barcode readers to read driver license numbers and use of DOT numbers are recommended to improve the accuracy of driver and company identification. These data are needed for linkages to driver records and to the Federal Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) carrier files for evaluations of the Center’s programs. It is recommended that data security is ensured through antivirus, malware protection, internet firewalls, and password protection for the computer and database; that trainees be informed that their privacy is protected; and course evaluations not be linked to individual trainees.Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planninghttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/116597/1/103234.pdfDescription of 103234.pdf : Final repor

A New Model of Crash Severities Reportable to the MCMIS Crash File

The Motor Carrier Management Information system (MCMIS) Crash file has been developed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to serve as a census file of trucks and buses involved in traffic crashes meeting a specific crash severity threshold. Each state is responsible for identifying cases that meet the MCMIS Crash file criteria and reporting the required data through the SafetyNet system. The present report is an addition to three previous reports describing models to predict the number of crash involvements a state should be reporting. The model has been updated and changed over time as more data becomes available from additional states. In each state, the number of fatal involvements is well-known, so all states will start with a known quantity, the number of fatal truck and bus crash involvements. The new model also incorporates a rural/urban (RU) factor that accounts for the relative proportion of rural to urban truck travel in a state. In the new model, data from 16 states that provide all the information necessary to identify MCMIS-reportable cases were used. A log-linear model is fit to MCMIS data for the states that have information recorded for both fatal and nonfatal crashes. The model is then used to predict the number of nonfatal crashes for a new state in which the number of fatal crashes and the RU factor are known. Ninety percent prediction intervals provide a range of nonfatal crash values to be used for guidance. The new model provides more accurate prediction than previous models and is expected to be updated as data from additional states become availableFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administrationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/89595/1/102787.pd

Assessment of the effectiveness of advanced collision avoidance technologies

This report describes the current state of knowledge regarding the effectiveness of several advanced collision-avoidance technologies (ACATs) and presents an assessment of the effect of each technology on traffic safety. The report covers only ACATs for light-duty vehicles. The literature reviewed is primarily restricted to English language publications from the last ten years (2003 to 2013). The technologies included in the assessment address vehicle instability (electronic stability control); forward impact collisions (forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking); and crashes related to lane/road departure (lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot detection). The methodologies and data used to evaluate ACAT effectiveness are also discussed. Data on the penetration of the technologies into the light-duty fleet are also presented. Overall, the systems reviewed here were estimated to be substantially effective in reducing their target crash types. The studies reviewed had a range of estimated reductions, and in some cases the differences were fairly substantial. However, even the lower-bound estimates are significant in most cases. Most studies relied on simulation or limited field operational tests to evaluate effectiveness. Other than electronic stability control, available crash data cannot yet support evaluation of the actual crash experience of the technologies, because penetration rates are low and vehicles with the technologies are not directly identified in the data.The University of Michigan Sustainable Worldwide Transportationhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102534/1/102987.pd

Motor carrier type and factors associated with fatal bus crashes 1999 and 2000

Data coverage is for 1999 and 2000In 2000, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulatory responsibilities were extended to buses with seating for nine or more occupants, including the driver, transported for compensation. FMCSA has also begun supporting data collection on buses involved in fatal crashes, to enhance information on the buses involved and the motor carriers that operate them. In response, the Transportation Safety Analysis Division at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) initiated the Buses Involved in Fatal Accidents (BIFA) project to collect much more detailed information about buses involved in fatal crashes. The present study focuses on factors associated with fatal bus crashes involving different bus operator types. Five different carrier types are identified: School, transit, intercity, charter/tour, and “other” bus operators. There are substantial differences between these carrier types that are reflected in many aspects of the crashes they are involved in, including when and where the crashes occur, who is injured in them, the configuration of the crash, the previous driving record of the bus drivers, and the frequency of driving errors related to the crash.Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Office of Data Analysis, Washington, D.C.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/3121/2/97647a02.pd