2013 Session: 777

• Safety Benefits of Stability Control Systems for Motorcoach Buses
  Abstract: This paper contains an analysis of the potential safety benefits of electronic stability control systems (ESC) for motorcoach buses operating within the U.S.. Motorcoaches are defined here as flat-front, high platform buses equipped for intercity or long distance travel. The deployment of the stability technologies for single motorcoach buses is in its infancy. National crash databases do not include information that can be used to identify buses equipped with ESC; moreover, even if they could be identified, in the current stage of deployment it is unlikely that there would be sufficient data to evaluate the safety performance of the technology particularly given the low number of motorcoach crashes. In light of these limitations, this study examined all recent fatal motorcoach crashes utilizing information from the accident reports, formal studies such as NTSB, and information contained in reconstruction reports to determine the likelihood that the crash may have been prevented or mitigated should the motorcoach have been fitted with functioning ESC technology. From this analysis it was determined that assuming ESC was fitted to all motorcoach buses, savings from LOC and rollover crashes prevented are estimated at $25 million annually. While the financial benefits for motorcoaches were found to be limited because LOC crash events are rare, the intrinsic value of this technology will likely exceed the financial benefits, given that motorcoaches transport the public and there is an expectation that effective safety technology should be used even if the exposure is low. In particular, the risk of passenger casualties in a higher speed motorcoach crash is much greater than for other vehicles because of the large number of people on board.
  Authors: Woodrooffe, John
  Authors: Woodrooffe, John
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-4367
• Mapping Large-Truck Rollovers: Identification and Mitigation Through Spatial Data Analysis
  Abstract: Crashes involving large trucks often result in numerous impediments to the transportation system, severe property damage and serious injuries or fatalities. In 2009 there were over 8,000 large truck crashes in which a rollover was categorized as the “most harmful event” for the large truck. Truck rollovers also tend to be severe; over half (52%) of all large truck occupant fatalities involved a rollover in 2009. To study this issue, fatal crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and non-fatal crash data obtained from various state agencies were analyzed and mapped in a Geographic Information System (GIS) to explore the prevalence of large truck rollover events at particular sites. This report identifies dense concentrations of large truck rollovers using historical crash data from 2001 to 2009. This analysis demonstrates that a geographic database of large truck rollover events can be created to identify locations where large truck rollovers frequently occur. Future phases of the research will explore technology solutions to reduce the occurrence of rollover crashes and improve the overall safety of the transportation system.
  Authors: Park, Lisa K.; Pierce, David
  Authors: Park, Lisa K.; Pierce, David
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-1057
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Parameters Influencing Single-Vehicle Large-Truck Accidents on Rural Two-Lane Roads in Washington State
  Abstract: Single-vehicle crashes (crashes where only one vehicle is involved) have made up a significant part of all fatal crashes, and more than three-fifths of these fatal crashes have occurred on rural roads and involved large trucks. Most previous studies have been focused on the overall involvement of either vehicles or trucks in accidents. Thus, little research has been developed to analyze single-vehicle large-truck accidents. This research tries to identify the associated factors for single-vehicle large-truck accidents on two-lane rural highways and provide useful recommendations for the improvement of highway safety.Four years (2002–2005) of truck-accident data from two-lane rural roads in Washington State are employed in this study to fit three regression models: The Negative Binomial (NB), Zero-Inflated Poisson (ZIP), and Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB). The results show that the significant explanatory variables in these three models are similar, showing that increasing some of the road parameters such as the curve degree, grade degree and speed limit, tends to increase the probability of single-vehicle large-truck accidents; whereas, increasing some of the road parameters, such as right shoulder width, tends to reduce the probability of single-vehicle large-truck accidents. Research findings could be used for further accident analysis and help transportation agencies take some countermeasures to improve roadway safety.
  Authors: Grislis, Aivis; Lao, Yunteng; Wu, Yao-Jan; Wang, Yinhai
  Authors: Grislis, Aivis; Lao, Yunteng; Wu, Yao-Jan; Wang, Yinhai
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-4998
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Identification and Ranking of High Intracity Truck Crash Zones
  Abstract: The primary focus of this paper is to develop and illustrate the working of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) based methodology to identify high intra-city truck crash zones and to rank them using sum-of-the-ranks method. Geospatial tools were used to develop truck crash concentration maps from the geocoded truck crash database. Fifty-nine truck crash zones were then defined and selected for ranking and prioritization. The sum-of-the-ranks method, which integrates ranks obtained based on crash frequency, crash severity, and crash density methods, was used for ranking. The working of the methodology is illustrated using 2008 data for the city of Charlotte, North Carolina. The findings from this research are expected to aid transportation planners and engineers in identification and prioritization of high intra-city truck crash locations. This will help in proper allotment of funds and resources to ensure better safety norms in the field of truck transportation.
  Authors: Pulugurtha, Srinivas Subrahmanyam; Pasupuleti, Naga Swetha
  Authors: Pulugurtha, Srinivas Subrahmanyam; Pasupuleti, Naga Swetha
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-5150
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Mapping Large-Truck Rollovers: Identification and Mitigation Through Spatial Data Analysis
  Authors: Park, Lisa
  Authors: Park, Lisa
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-1057
• Safety Benefits of Stability Control Systems for Motorcoach Buses
  Authors: Woodrooffe, John
  Authors: Woodrooffe, John
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-4367
• Identification and Ranking of High Intracity Truck Crash Zones
  Authors: Pulugurtha, Srinivas
  Authors: Pulugurtha, Srinivas
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Data and Information Technology; Motor Carriers; Safety and Human Factors
  Session: 777
  Paper Number: 13-5150