Car-Truck Crashes in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey

The National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey (NMVCCS) provided in-depth investigative data on pre-crash factors and other characteristics of 5,471 crashes involving light passenger vehicles (“cars”). Within the dataset, 199 crashes, representing 79,721 crashes nationally, were collisions between cars and large trucks. These 199 car-truck crashes constitute the second largest U.S. truck in-depth crash investigation dataset ever compiled, but its findings have not previously been published. NMVCCS is a significant source of information about the genesis of car-truck crashes. This includes variables relating to crash configurations, critical reasons, associated factors, and conditions of occurrence. Findings supplement and generally corroborate those from the Large Truck Crash Causation Study. However, NMVCCS data are more recent and represent a wider range of crash severities. Cars were more likely than trucks to be the encroaching/precipitating vehicle in car-truck collisions. Overall, 71.0% of assigned Critical Reasons (CRs) were to the car. Cars were more likely to be outof-control prior to impact and to violate rights-of-way. Associated, contributing factors relating to driver impairment or stress were noted more frequently for car drivers. Trucks were more likely to be assigned vehicle-related CRs and associated factors, however. Nationally, about 80% of truck-related fatalities occur in car-truck crashes. Understanding their genesis is essential for the development of effective countermeasures.