The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of current issues affecting work-related roadway crashes with a focus on preventing injuries and fatalities to vehicle drivers and passengers. Fatalities and injuries to pedestrian workers are not within the scope of this document, nor are events occurring at locations such as parking lots and industrial sites away from public roadways. The document begins by illustrating the scope and nature of the problem and presenting data on both fatal and non-fatal injuries. The next section summarises the large body of regulations that apply to the operation of motor vehicles. Some are specific to work-related driving, and others apply to all drivers or all vehicles. The sections that follow address special topics critical to the formulation of strategies to prevent work-related roadway fatalities and injuries. These topics include driver fatigue, special issues regarding the motor carrier industry, driver distraction and cell phone use, age-related factors, and general fleet safety issues. Following the discussions of special topics are detailed strategies for preventing work-related roadway crashes. The document concludes with lists of additional readings and vehicle-related Internet resources from government agencies, research organisations, industry, and citizen groups. (Author/publisher)
Abstract