Examining injury severity in truck-involved collisions using a cumulative link mixed model

Abstract

Background Trucks play a vital role in promoting regional freight transportation and economic development, but truck-involved collisions often have more severe consequences and create greater losses for society. Research purpose This study examined the relationships between injury severity and various explanatory factors in truck-involved collisions to identify preventive countermeasures for safety improvement. Data Los Angeles’ collision records from 2010 to 2018 were analyzed. Method A cumulative link mixed model was applied, where the heterogeneities among drivers were highlighted. Result Our findings confirmed that various driving mistakes, such as speeding, improper driving, and drinking alcohol, contributed to severe injuries. Male drivers were more likely to be severely injured, while female occupants were more likely to be severely injured. The use of safety equipment always helped mitigate injury severity. Collisions at night on dark roads with no streetlights and collisions on slippery road surfaces had higher risks of causing severe injuries. In addition, collisions on ramps were more likely to result in severe injuries. Drivers in old trucks were also at a higher risk of suffering from severe injuries. Conclusions Freight companies are encouraged to monitor drivers’ performance using remote cameras. Policy-wise, local agencies should regulate improper driving behavior and safety equipment use for truck drivers. Improving lighting conditions, periodically testing the skid resistance of road surfaces, adjusting speed limits, and applying weigh-in-motion technologies may greatly help mitigate injury severity. Old trucks should be brought in for frequent tests or abandoned after many years of usage.

Analysis of Factors Contributing to the Injury Severity of Overloaded-Truck-Related Crashes on Mountainous Highways in China

“…Additionally, the cement and wet variables can likewise result in minor outcomes, with marginal effects of −0.082 and −0.105, respectively. In terms of causes, the former may be due to the anti-skid characteristics of cement pavements, while the latter, slightly different from the intuitive opinion, may be due to the higher risk awareness of drivers [ 11 , 32 , 40 ].…”

“…It is speculated that the negative impact of a head-on collision is more related to the slower driving speed of trucks that are overloaded. In rollover accidents, the vehicle’s center of gravity is raised as a result of overloading, and drivers or occupants inside the truck are at a high risk of fatal injury, especially if the seat belt is not worn properly [ 24 , 32 , 33 , 49 ]. Further, if an overloaded truck is involved in a rollover accident on the winding mountain road section, and meanwhile runs off the road, the huge drop between the cliff and the valley may result in more severe injuries.…”

“…Likewise, in terms of influencing factors selection, a considerable number of characteristics have been extensively studied, mainly including roadway characteristics, driver characteristics, environmental characteristics, accident characteristics, vehicle characteristics and temporal characteristics [ 19 , 31 , 32 ]. The weight of the vehicle or whether the truck is overloaded should be one of the elements in the above-mentioned vehicle characteristic group, which normally includes factors such as truck type, braking performance and tire condition [ 12 , 16 , 18 ].…”

A Systematic Review on the Role of Substance Consumption in Work-Related Road Traffic Crashes Reveals the Importance of Biopsychosocial Factors in Prevention

“…Chen and colleagues [ 22 ] analyzed the US Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) to find truck-involved collision data occurred in Los Angeles from January 2010 to December 2018: among 21,258 truck drivers involved in a RTC, 7.26% (N = 1544) tested positive for alcohol.…”

Identifying Interactive Factors That May Increase Crash Risk between Young Drivers and Trucks: A Narrative Review

“…Analysing young driver’s night driving through the lens of truck safety is important primarily because truck crash incidences are more likely to be severe at night compared with morning or day-time incidences [ 79 ]. A contributing factor here is that long-haul solo truck drivers in Australia are allowed to drive for up to 72 h a week, with the only restriction being that the driver must take a 24 h continuous stationary rest break during this period.…”