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Hazardous Materials Serious Crash Analysis:
First Phase Final Report

Prepared for:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

February 2003

Click here to access the PDF version of this Report


Table of Contents

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

1.0 INTRODUCTION

2.0 DATA AND STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT

2.1 Data Assessment
2.2 Questionnaire Process
2.3 Questionnaire Results

3.0 DESCRIPTION OF SERIOUS CRASH DATABASE

3.1 Database Description
3.2 Summary of Database Results

4.0 CRASH SELECTION PROCESS

4.1 Selection of Serious Crashes
4.2 Populating Data Fields in the Serious HM Crash Database

5.0 DATA ANALYSIS

5.1 Data Quality Enhancement
5.2 Cargo Configuration
5.3 Data Enhancements Realized by Expanding Field Definitions
5.4 Association of Causes with First Harmful Event
5.5 Rollover Driver Fatalities

6.0 CONCLUSIONS

6.1 Police Accident Reports
6.2 Packaging Information
6.3 Recommendations for Future Investigations

List of Appendices

Appendix A. Selected Hazmat Users Questionnaire Results

Appendix B. Comparison of Spill Data Before and After Enhancement

Appendix C. References

List of Tables

Table 4-1. Carrier Information Report Differences for the Same Crash
Table 4-2. Selection of 214 Crashes for More Detailed Analysis

Table 5-1. Example of Before and After Entries to Data Fields
Table 5-2. Changes in Cargo Body Configuration from PAR's
Table 5-3. Quantity Shipped Data for HMIS Records
Table 5-4. Hazmat Vehicle Configurations Based on PAR
Table 5-5. Hazmat Cargo Body Type Configuration from the PARs
Table 5-6. Total Fatalities by Trafficway as Shown in MCMIS
Table 5-7. Total Fatalities by Trafficway in the Enhanced Database
Table 5-8. Total Fatalities by Road Type in the Enhanced Database
Table 5-9. Distribution of Causes and First Harmful Events
Table 5-10. Rollover Causes

Table A-1. Summary of Question 1 Results
Table A-2. Summary of Question 2 Results
Table A-3. Summary of Question 3 Results
Table A-4. Summary of Question 5 Results
Table A-5. Summary of Question 6 Results
Table A-6. Summary of Question 7 Results
Table A-7. Summary of Question 8 Results
Table A-8. Summary of Question 9 Results
Table A-9. Summary of Question 10 Results

Table B-1. Comparison of Data as Reported in HMIS and MCMIS with Augmented Database

List of Figures

Figure 3-1. Main Database Entry Screen for the Serious Crash Database
Figure 3-2. Incident Summary Screen
Figure 3-3. Crash Location Screen Information
Figure 3-4. Crash Details Data Entry Screen
Figure 3-5. Agency Response Information Captured by the Database
Figure 3-6. Information on Vehicles Involved in the Crash
Figure 3-7. Carrier Information
Figure 3-8. Driver Information
Figure 3-9. Hazardous Material and Shipping Package Description
Figure 3-10. Action Entries under the Package Behavior Screen
Figure 3-11. Object Entries under Package Behavior Screen
Figure 3-12. How Package Failed under Package Behavior Screen
Figure 3-13. Areas Failed Entries under Package Behavior Screen
Figure 3-14. Failed Components under Package Behavior Screen
Figure 3-15. Fire and Explosion Information under Vehicle Screen

Figure 5-1. Percentage of HM Spilled in Rollovers
Figure 5-2. Distribution of Causes and First Harmful Events




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