In 2004, 5,190 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks. Typically, less than 20% of commercial motor vehicle (CMV)-related fatalities are occupants of the truck. Due to the sheer mass of CMVs, even relatively low speed impacts can result in major damage to passenger vehicles when they are also involved. Most crashes that are fatal to truck drivers involve running off the road and rolling over or hitting a large stationary object (e.g., tree, bridge abutment, culvert). Many of the drivers killed in these types of crashes died because they failed to wear their shoulder belts and were ejected from the CMV. By 2008, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) aims to increase shoulder belt use among CMV drivers and to reduce the total number of CMV-related fatalities to 1.65 per 100 million CMV miles traveled. The 2005 CMV study, aimed at replicating the 2002 study, provides FMCSA the data to assess progress in increased shoulder belt use and to determine how best to allocate its resources to help reduce fatalities. Based on the data collected in 2002, estimates of shoulder belt usage rate changes among CMV drivers were produced. To the extent possible, minimal changes to the sites, vehicle sample, and procedures were made to ensure that results of this 2005 study were directly comparable to the 2002 study. Although this approach did provide comparable data, post-collection reviews point to a number of issues that should be addressed to improve validity and feedback for strategic program planners. Like the 2002 study, the 2005 study was a nationally representative sample survey of shoulder belt usage by CMV drivers (of Class 7 and Class 8 vehicles) throughout the United States. Note that estimates only include drivers restrained by shoulder belts, not by lap belts. This is important to note since it may imply that overall seat belt use is somewhat underreported. (Author/publisher)
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