25,000 Crashes a
Year Due to Vehicle-Related Road Debris, AAA Foundation Study Finds
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--June 16, 2006--According to new research released by the AAA Foundation
for Traffic Safety, vehicle parts, cargo, or other material that has been
unintentionally discharged from vehicles onto the roadway is estimated to cause
over 25,000 crashes per year in North America resulting in approximately 80-90
fatalities.
"Although
vehicle-related road debris (VRRD) crashes are generally less severe than other
crashes, individual incidents can be catastrophic," says Peter Kissinger,
President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "Moreover, many
of the estimated 25,000 VRRD crashes can be prevented if truckers and motorists
secure their loads properly and report debris that they encounter on the
road."
The report "The
Safety Impact of Vehicle Related-Road Debris" estimated the magnitude of
the VRRD safety problem (i.e., frequency and severity of VRRD crashes). Intus
Road Safety Engineering, Inc. conducted the research through an extensive
literature review, identification and analysis of existing crash data, as well
as surveys of current state and provincial practices for preventing and removing
VRRD.
A survey of road
authorities in the U.S. and Canada on maintenance practices found the three most
prevalent forms of VRRD include tire treads, garbage from waste haulers, and
lumber and construction materials.
The report recommends
several low-cost educational and enforcement approaches as potential
countermeasures to prevent VRRD crashes and to reduce crash severity when they
occur:
Educating motorists on
load securement and reporting unsafe vehicles, unsecured loads, and road
debris
Educating motorists on defensive driving, especially around trucks in the
event of wheel and tire separations
Educating fleet maintenance personnel on preventing wheel separations
Training commercial vehicle drivers to periodically inspect their vehicles and
cargo
Training enforcement officials in vehicle safety and load securement
Targeting specific groups for enforcement (e.g., waste haulers, landscapers)
Enacting stricter laws on load securement
Research performed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety can be found at www.aaafoundation.org.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is an independent, publicly funded, 501
(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization established in 1947 by
the American Automobile Association. The AAA Foundation's mission is to prevent
traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by
educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce the impact
when they do occur.
Contact:
AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety
Fairley Washington
Saj Sosseh
202-638-5944
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