Large truck crash causation study in the united states

The United States Department of Transportation has been conducting a major study on the causes of large truck crashes. An unprecedented database containing highly detailed data (over 1,000 data elements) on 1,000 serious large truck crashes is being created. When completed, it will be the most comprehensive database on large truck crashes in existence. The database will be made widely available to researchers around the world. This paper will describe the many pieces of information in the database and the countless uses of the data. Specific examples will be discussed that illustrate the richness, depth, quality, and the variety of the data. The paper will also discuss the methods being used to capture and describe the contributing factors and the events that led up to each crash, as well as illustrate the added value of collecting data on-scene, immediately after the crash. For the covering abstract see ITRD E825082.