Recreational vehicle (RV) operators are specifically exempt from the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) programme in all 50 American states even though a large RV weighs between 12,700 and 13,600 kg plus the weight of the passenger vehicle in tow. Since the licensing requirements for RV operators are not as strict as for operators of large trucks and buses, the question arises as to whether or not RV drivers are involved in more or more serious crashes than are drivers of large trucks. In the study presented in this scientific poster, two sources of crash data were studied to determine the culpability of RV drivers in crashes; (1) the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from which the 1994, 1995 and 1998 data were used. This database specifies a vehicle category of large motor homes in order to facilitate a comparison of vehicles within the CDL weight range; and (2) motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) occurred in Ohio during 1998. Since Ohio does not differentiate between RV sizes, the data include RVs of all sizes. However, the Ohio accident database is specific in defining the responsible driver in a crash. Both the FARS and Ohio crash data show that RV operators are overrepresented in vehicle crashes. A recommendation made is that states should consider adopting a special licensing procedure for RV drivers along the line of those used for the CDL programme.
Abstract