Under a modification to the 'Tri-Level Study of the Causes of Traffic Accidents,' a separate analysis was conducted to statistically assess the potential causal involvement of selected vehicle factors. Accident situations in which the presence of component defects are considered to be a potential danger are identified and the condition of vehicles in these situations compared to the condition of vehicles in accident situations where the component defect was considered to be of less importance. Control variables which might themselves account for the differences found are identified and statistical methods used to control for their effects. Results of the study indicate that driver/vehicle combinations involved in control loss accidents were associated with the presence of a combination of human, vehicle and environmental factors where poor vehicle condition was a contributing factor.
Abstract