August 2000

Data Nexus, Inc. has just completed its two year study on long combination vehicles for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS). You can read our report on the AAAFTS website at: http://www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/lcv.pdf.

Data Nexus supports the AAAFTS mission to research why motor vehicle crashes happen and educate the public about how to avoid problems on the road. In 1999 and 2000, the AAAFTS conducted a research program to identify barriers to analysis of large truck safety experience in the United States. The primary focus was on so-called Longer Combination Vehicles (LCVs) - the "doubles" and "triples" running on major highways throughout the country. Five states (Florida, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah) were chosen to participate in the study and have their data collection and analysis practices reviewed and evaluated. In addition, two of the states (Oregon and Utah) participated in an audit of completed crash reports for crashes involving large trucks and especially doubles and triples.

The results of this study showed that none of the five states have a crash reporting system that adequately supports the analysis of LCV safety. In general, there was a lack of reliable data on the exact configuration of vehicles involved in crashes, as well as a lack of specific measures of exposure for LCVs. Due to this lack of good data on configuration and good measures of exposure, the main question regarding LCV safety--are they more or less safe than other large commercial motor vehicles--cannot be answered empirically.

The report offers several recommendations for improving the quality of data on crashes involving large trucks and for improving the states' ability to analyze LCV crashes specifically. Bob Scopatz, Senior Research Scientist at Data Nexus and principal investigator for the study, stated, "…the results are important for safety advocates at the state and national level and for the motor carrier industry in particular. The industry and government both need quality data on LCV safety -- data that will support detailed analyses of the safety of LCVs in comparison to other classes of large trucks. Without better data, we risk formulating policies that hurt the industry and do nothing to protect the motoring public."

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