Light Vehicle-Heavy Vehicle Interactions: A Preliminary Assessment Using Critical Incident Analysis

Abstract

Two recently completed on-road in situ data collection efforts, one involving local/short haul trucking and the other long-haul trucking, provided a large data set in which to conduct an examination of critical incidents (crashes and near-crashes) that occurred between light vehicles and heavy vehicles. Video and non-video data collected during the two studies were used to characterize critical incidents that were recorded between light vehicle and heavy vehicle drivers. Across both studies, 210 light vehicle-heavy vehicle (LV-HV) critical incidents were recorded. Of these, 78 percent were initiated by the light vehicle driver. Aggressive driving on the part of the light vehicle driver was found to be the primary contributing factor for light vehicle driver initiated incidents. For heavy vehicle driver initiated incidents, the primary contributing factor was poor driving technique. The results suggest that efforts at addressing LV-HV interaction incidents should focus on light vehicle drivers who drive aggressively. Additionally, it is recommended that heavy vehicle drivers might benefit from improved driver training that includes instruction on defensive driving.