EVALUATION OF PERSONAL INJURY OCCURRENCES IN, ON AND AROUND MEDIUM AND HEAVY TRUCKS

It is an objective of the present study to identify the type, frequency, cause and severity of personal injuries occurring in, on, and around trucks in order to facilitate the Motor Vehicle Manufacturer's Association's objectives to reduce the number and severity of accidents experienced by those involved in the non-highway operation of large trucks. Recognizing the difficulty of accessing relevant statistical information, especially in a form that could be analyzed in detail regarding causation, the study pursued the objective using several different methodologies. A summary of previous studies and the gleaning of useful information from them, especially regarding what they suggested as to fruitful areas on which to focus, is one module in this effort. A second component of the study compiles and analyzes statistical data, as current as feasible, collected by government or private agencies. Another module compiles and reviews regulations, specifications and guidelines relative to human factor engineering. Field observations and interviews with drivers and driver helpers is another module which helps evaluate the statistical analysis as a kind of reality test.