Background

As part of the ongoing FMCSA safety management effort to reduce the number of vehicle accidents on highways, assistance by safety specialists in accident analysis and countermeasures planning is now an integral part of compliance reviews conducted by the FMCSA. Accident countermeasures are examples of defensive strategies designed to reduce preventable accidents.

Purpose

This folder is designed to provide motor carriers and drivers with an introduction to the concepts of preventability analysis and accident countermeasures. The material suggests practical measures that can be taken now to prevent accidents, though its main intent goes further. The core of the presentation is a series of case histories of successful countermeasures. These are true stories of industry successes in promoting highway safety. The case histories are presented, together with a guide called Determining Preventability of Accidents, to help readers analyze accidents and create strategies to keep similar accidents from happening in the future.

The FMCSA intends to stimulate thinking and discussion about accident preventability and prevention within the motor carrier industry. The preventability guide and the Accident Countermeasures cases are not rating sheets nor orders from above to be followed exactly. They are guidelines and discussion tools to help carriers and drivers look at their unique operations and practices with an eye to identifying opportunities to make safety improvements.

Determining preventability

No two accidents or carriers are exactly alike, and the FMCSA recognizes that not all accidents are preventable. Some types of accidents, furthermore, can be prevented by drivers, while others require changes in motor carrier practices and policies or equipment. The new FMCSA method for determining preventability is based on examination of the facts in accident records.

Cases and countermeasures

The countermeasures cases in this file actually occurred. They are true success stories that show how relatively modest improvements led to significant reductions in accident rates.

Contents and attachments

This section contains A Guide to Determining Preventability of Accidents and Accident Countermeasures: Success Stories. Attachments include an Accident Register form and a chart, Revenue Necessary to Pay for Accident Losses.

You are welcome to reproduce and distribute any of the materials in this booklet.

The heart of accident analysis is the determination of preventability, based on the facts furnished in the motor carrier's recordable accident register, and from various other sources. These sources of information must be evaluated in light of all available facts that are pertinent to the cause of the accident. Digging out these facts from the information on these reports can be difficult in practice due to the limited data contained in some reports. But the information can be obtained in many instances by a detailed analysis and reconstruction of the accident sequence.

Each accident must be judged individually. Certain types will generally fall in the non-preventable category, and certain others, in the absence of extenuating circumstances and conditions, fall in the preventable category. The types of accidents listed below do not cover every accident that may occur, but they are intended to provide general guidance to assist in determining preventability.

Non-preventable if

Driver's vehicle was legally and properly parked

• Driver was proceeding in his/her own lane of traffic at a safe and lawful speed
• Driver was stopped in traffic due to existing conditions or was stopped in compliance with traffic sign or signal or the directions of a police officer or other person legitimately controlling traffic
• Driver was in proper lane waiting to make turn.

Struck While Parked

Driver was properly parked in a location where parking was permitted

• Vehicle was stopped, parked, or left standing in accordance with Sections 392.21 and 392.22 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

Preventable Accidents Accidents at Intersections

Driver failed to control speed so that he/she could stop within available sight distance

• Driver failed to check cross-traffic and wait for it to clear before entering intersection
• Driver pulled out from side street in the face of oncoming traffic
• Driver collided with person, vehicle, or object while making right or left turn
• Driver collided with vehicle making turn in front of him/her.

Striking Other Vehicle in Rear

Driver failed to maintain safe following distance and have his/her vehicle under control

• Driver failed to keep track of traffic conditions and did not slow down
• Driver failed to ascertain whether vehicle ahead was moving slowly, stopped, or slowing down for any reason
• Driver misjudged rate of overtaking
• Driver came too close before pulling out to pass
• Driver failed to wait for vehicle ahead to move into the clear before starting up
• Driver failed to leave sufficient room for passing vehicle to get safely back in line.

Sideswipe and Head-on Collisions

• Driver did not pull to right and slow down or stop for vehicle encroaching on his/her lane of travel when such action could have been taken without additional danger.

Struck in Rear by Other Vehicle

• Driver made sudden stop to park, load, or unload
• Vehicle was improperly parked
• Driver rolled back into vehicle behind them while starting on grade

Squeeze Plays and Shutouts

Driver failed to yield right-of-way when necessary to avoid accident

Driver backed up when backing could have been avoided by better planning of his/her route

• Driver backed into traffic stream when such backing could have been avoided
• Driver failed to get out of cab and check proposed path of backward travel
• Driver depended solely on mirrors when it was practicable to look back
• Driver failed to get out of cab periodically and recheck conditions when backing a long distance
• Driver failed to check behind vehicle parked at curb before attempting to leave parking space
• Driver relied solely on a guide to help him/her back
• Driver backed from blind side when he/she could have made a sight-side approach
  

Driver attempted to cross tracks directly ahead of train or streetcar

• Driver ran into side of train or streetcar
• Driver stopped or parked on or too close to tracks.

Accidents While Passing

Driver passed where view of road ahead was obstructed by hill, curve, vegetation, traffic, adverse weather conditions, etc.

• Driver attempted to pass in the face of closely approaching traffic
• Driver failed to warn driver of vehicle being passed
• Driver failed to signal change of lanes
• Driver pulled out in front of other traffic overtaking from rear
• Driver cut in too short while returning to right lane.

Accidents While Being Passed

Driver failed to stay in his own lane and hold speed or reduce it to permit safe passing.

Driver failed to signal when pulling out from curb

• Driver failed to check traffic before pulling out from curb
• Driver failed to look back to check traffic if he/she was in position where mirrors did not show traffic conditions
• Driver attempted to pull out in a manner that forced other vehicle(s) to change speed or direction
• Driver failed to make full stop before entering from side street, alley, or driveway
• Driver failed to make full stop before crossing sidewalk
• Driver failed to yield right of way to approaching traffic.

Pedestrian Accidents

Driver did not reduce speed in area of heavy pedestrian traffic

• Driver was not prepared to stop
• Driver failed to yield right of way to pedestrian.

Mechanical Defects Accidents

Defect was of a type that driver should have detected in making pre-trip or enroute inspection of vehicle

• Defect was of a type that driver should have detected during the normal operation of the vehicle
• Defect was caused by driver's abusive handling of the vehicle
• Defect was known to driver, but ignored
• Driver was instructed to operate with known defect.

All Types of Accidents

Driver was not operating at a speed suitable for the existing conditions of road, weather, and traffic

• Driver failed to control speed so that he/she could stop within assured clear distance
• Driver misjudged available clearance
• Driver failed to yield right-of-way to avoid accident
• Driver failed to accurately observe existing conditions
• Driver was in violation of company operating rules or special instructions, the regulations of any Federal or State regulatory agency, or any applicable traffic laws or ordinances.

Accident Countermeasures: Success Stories

References in parentheses are to cases in the Commercial Vehicle Preventable Accident Manual (Countermeasures Manual).

CASE # 1. COUNTERMEASURE:

An Oregon-based carrier transporting wood chips from the coast to the Eugene area began to have an unusual number of accidents. An analysis by the Safety Specialist revealed that the majority of the accidents occurred on a three-mile stretch of the route being used. This two-lane road was narrow, winding, and frequented by tourists in summer; and plagued with fog, ice, and snow in winter. Further investigation revealed that for the past eight months construction had been underway along the three-mile stretch - about the same time the accidents had been happening. The highway department indicated that construction would continue for another six months.

The Safety Specialist discussed the findings with management and recommended the carrier's vehicles be rerouted until the construction was complete.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A11-Planning Schedules, Loads and Routes)

The carrier realized that it could not continue with the increased level of accidents for another six months and agreed with the recommendation. Although the new route was approximately 30 miles more each way, the benefit of reducing accidents outweighed this.

CASE # 2. COUNTERMEASURE:

An Illinois-based produce hauler was experiencing a high number of driver injuries resulting in a large number of workman compensation claims. A Safety Specialist's review of the accidents revealed that drivers were wrenching their necks inside their cabovers (vs. conventional cabs) when passing over bumps in the road. The drivers were being thrown unexpectedly out of their seats and into the windshield or ceiling of their tractors. The cabovers were identified as being the primary source of these incidents - the driver's seat is located directly over the front wheels and provides little resistance or cushion to reduce the impact of bumps in the road to the driver.

The Safety Specialist recommended that the carrier insert language into their employee manual requiring drivers to wear their seat belts.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A8-Company Driver Manuals)

The carrier agreed to the recommendation and, in addition, instructed guards at each terminal gate to check drivers before leaving to ensure they were complying with the company's policy. This simple solution, which had been overlooked by everyone, turned out to be the key in reducing this type of injury to zero.

CASE # 3. COUNTERMEASURE:

An Indiana-based school bus contractor was experiencing a high number of accidents caused by driver inattention. After examining all of the carrier's accidents, the Safety Specialist determined that they all were occurring during the month of June. The Safety Specialist also came to the conclusion that no specific driver or vehicle was responsible for the accidents. It seemed that the drivers, in general, were becoming inattentive because summer was near and they were anticipating the end of the school year. Further analysis revealed that the Safety Director held two safety meetings a year with the drivers, one in September and another in February.

The Safety Specialist recommended to the carrier that it should begin holding safety meetings sometime in April and provide each driver with a one-page handout in the period prior to the start of these meetings to keep them alert.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A7-Fleet Safety Program and Supervision)

This simple solution turned out to be the key in reducing these accidents to zero. When the Safety Director was asked why he had never noticed this problem, he replied "This was right there in front of me, but I just never had the time to sit down and look at it in this manner!"

CASE # 4. COUNTERMEASURE:

A Utah-based carrier, which conducts the majority of its business west of the Mississippi River, was experiencing a high number of accidents.

After discussion with some drivers and management officials, an analysis by the Safety Specialist revealed that a high number of accidents occurred during the same time of day on a three-to-five mile section of a certain interstate, heading west. Apparently, drivers were being blinded as they came over the crest of a very large hill at sunset.

The Safety Specialist discussed the situation with management and recommended that the carrier change the time its drivers were being dispatched. The carrier agreed with the recommendation and immediately began to dispatch drivers an hour earlier or an hour later in order to avoid driving over the hill at sunset. This change eliminated the accidents.

CASE # 5. COUNTERMEASURE:

During a review of a large Indiana-based household goods carrier that operates over 5,000 tractor-trailers, a Safety Specialist discovered that the carrier was experiencing a high number of rear-end collisions. Some of these accidents caused damage to the extent that they were reportable to the DOT. Most, however, were of a lesser amount but still added to the carrier's cost of operation.

The Safety Specialist recommended the installation of brake and turn signal lights at the top of the carrier's trailers.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. B6-Turning Left and Right)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. C10-Vehicle lighting and Conspicuity)

This reduced accidents almost immediately.

CASE # 6. COUNTERMEASURE:

During a review of a Washington-based grocery company, operating over 100 tractor trailers primarily in urban areas, the Safety Specialist discovered an accident pattern - an inordinate number of right turn accidents. Some of the accidents caused damage to the extent that they were reportable to DOT. Most, however, caused damages in a lesser amount but still added to the carrier's cost of operation.

The Safety Specialist discussed the findings with the carrier and recommended the installation of turn signals at a higher level on trailers.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. B6-Turning Left and Right)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. C10-Vehicle Lighting and Conspicuity)

The carrier agreed and also applied signs to the back of each trailer, on the right side, warning of wide turns. Accidents dropped dramatically over a very short period of time.

CASE # 7. COUNTERMEASURE:

During a recent review, a Washington-based carrier that operates over 2,400 tractor trailers west of the Mississippi River was found to have a high number of loss-of-control accidents during adverse driving conditions.

The Safety Specialist recommended the carrier require drivers to attend a safety meeting.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A7-Fleet Safety Program and Supervision)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A9-Driver Training Aids)

To promote attendance, the carrier scheduled ten Saturday meetings in various locations and required all drivers to attend one. Drivers were paid to attend the meetings and coffee and doughnuts were provided. The safety meeting consisted of approximately four hours of training on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, driving in adverse conditions, and other general safety information. Within a short period of time, the company records indicated a 60 percent reduction in accidents.

CASE # 8. COUNTERMEASURE:

An Oregon-based produce hauler, generally running from Portland to Los Angeles was having a very high number of backing accidents. Considering the areas in which they were required to load and unload, the carrier had not found the number of accidents unusual. An analysis by the Safety Specialist revealed that the carrier was using qualified but relatively inexperienced drivers in sleeper teams. They were paid for load/unload time whether they actually had to do the work or not. Although most of the backing accidents involved damage costing less than $1,000, one dock worker had been crushed between a trailer and the dock, which emphasized the danger inherent in backing accidents.

The Safety Specialist recommended that each driver attend a safety meeting, and that a safety notice be distributed to all drivers requiring them to assist each other during backing maneuvers.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A7-Fleet Safety Program and Supervision)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A9-Driving Training Aid)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. B3-Start-Up/Back-Up)

The carrier agreed with the suggestion and required every driver to attend a safety meeting (meetings were held on several Saturdays to allow attendance by all). Drivers were paid overtime and coffee and donuts were furnished. The meeting contained about four hours of training on proper procedures for backing. In addition, a safety notice was distributed in driver's paychecks instructing them to assist each other during backing maneuvers. Backing accidents dropped quickly, and because of increased driver awareness, there was a reduction in other types of accidents as well.

CASE # 9. COUNTERMEASURE:

A Missouri-based farm commodity and hazardous material transporter was experiencing a high number of accidents. Examination of all its accidents revealed that they occurred during bad weather and that the majority of them were caused by drivers who were not paying attention to the road conditions, (that is, they were driving too fast for the weather).

The Safety Specialist recommended that the carrier implement a safe driver recognition/incentive program and a driver training program geared to avoiding accident situations and to driving in adverse weather conditions.

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A3-Safe Driving Recognition)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A4-Driver Safety Infractions)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. A7-Fleet Safety Program and Supervision)

(Countermeasures Manual Case No. B11-Driving in Adverse Conditions)

The carrier agreed with the recommendations, and now holds quarterly safety meetings with 95 percent driver participation. Any driver who attended the previous meeting and was accident free during the quarter receives a $150 U.S. Savings Bond. The carrier also, implemented a driver training program and classroom instruction on accident situations and driving in adverse weather conditions. After the carrier took this proactive stance, its accident rate improved from 0.88 to 0.37 over 12 months.

CASE # 10. COUNTERMEASURE:

A city-based carrier that operates over 30 delivery trucks was experiencing a high number of accidents.

An analysis by the Safety Specialist revealed that a majority of accidents occurred within a two to three block area downtown every Thursday between nine and ten in the morning. The analysis also revealed that drivers were paid every Thursday morning, and that a number of banks are located within the problem area. Apparently, after they were paid in the morning, drivers would stop at the banks while on-duty to cash their paychecks.

Driving in this highly congested area during rush hour placed both the driver and vehicle in extremely unfavorable conditions. Cashing the checks during the morning rush hour traffic was placing both the driver and vehicle in the worst possible place at the busiest time of the day and led to the high number of accidents.

After further discussion with management officials, the Safety Specialist recommended that the carrier change the time the drivers were being paid. The carrier agreed with the recommendation and began paying the drivers at the end of the day. The change forced drivers to cash their paychecks after work while off-duty, and eliminated the accidents.

CASE # 11. COUNTERMEASURE:

An Illinois-based carrier that operates over 200 tractor trailers was experiencing a high number of accidents. An analysis by the carrier's Safety Director revealed that the majority of these accidents fell into three main categories. The carrier was experiencing:

CASE # 12. COUNTERMEASURE:

Motor carriers in California and Tennessee have recently experienced accidents involving the driver's inability to see other vehicles because of poor visibility (specifically, in fog or dust storms).

According to researchers here and in Europe, use of front and rear running lights during daylight hours would save lives and prevent injuries, since many crashes are caused by poor visibility. These running lights can be: