REAR-END CRASHES: PROBLEM SIZE ASSESSMENT AND STATISTICAL DESCRIPTION. TECHNICAL REPORT

This document presents problem size assessments and statistical crash descriptions for rear-end crashes, including two key subtypes: lead-vehicle stationary (LVS) and lead-vehicle moving (LVM). Principal data sources are the 1990 General Estimates System (GES) and Fatal Accident Reporting System (FARS). Rear-end crashes are a potential "target crash" of high-technology Intelligent Vehicle Highway System (IVHS) crash avoidance countermeasures. In this report, the rear-end crash problem size is assessed using such measures as number of crashes, number and severity of injuries, number of fatalities, crash involvement rate, and crash involvement likelihood. Problem size statistics are provided for three vehicle type categories: all vehicles, passenger vehicles (i.e., cars, light trucks, light vans), and combination unit trucks. LVS and LVM rear-end crashes are described statistically primarily in terms of the conditions under which they occur (e.g., time of day, weather, roadway type, relation to junction) and, when data are available, in terms of possible contributing factors.