For the 1997 and 1998 data years, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute's (UMTRI's) Center for National Truck statistics collected data on rear underride as part of its Trucks Involved in Fatal Accidents survey. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the incidence of underride in these fatal crashes. Supplemental data were collected on each rear-end crash involvement. Data collected included whether the truck had a rear underride guard, whether the striking vehicle underrode the truck, and how much underride occurred. A total of 853 fatal crash involvements occurred in 1997-1998 in which a nontruck vehicle struck a truck in the rear. Underride was reported in 518 of the 853 rear-end crashes. Among 276 straight trucks struck in the rear, there was no underride in 78 involvements, some underride in 152 involvements and underride could not be determined in 46. Among 541 tractors with one or more trailers struck in the rear, no underride occurred in 124 involvements, some underride occurred in 357 involvements, and underride could not be determined in 60 involvements. There were 979 fatalities in these rear-end crashes; 900 of the fatalities occurred in the striking vehicle. Of the striking vehicle fatalities, 211 occurred with no underride, 565 when some underride was recorded and 124 when underride could not be determined. (Author/publisher)
Abstract