New ATRI Study to Analyze Impact of Nonpreventable Crashes on CSA Scores

The American Transportation Research Institute is nearing completion of research that will support claims by many motor carriers that eliminating nonpreventable crashes from their safety profiles would significantly improve their Compliance, Safety Accountability crash scores, according to a top ATRI researcher.

ATRI is expected to make public in the next few weeks research that will analyze the detailed crash histories of 14 carriers to recalculate scores for the carriers’ Crash Indicator Basic, or Behavioral Analysis and Safety Improvement Category, said Dan Murray, ATRI’s vice president of research.

“We’ve got detailed crash data that identified nonpreventable crashes that are beyond reproach — ones that crash and safety advocates and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration could never argue about in terms of blame,” Murray told Transport Topics on Sept. 28. “Essentially, in all instances the crash BASICS improved dramatically.”

ATRI said those crashes that were eliminated from the carriers’ safety scores included those instances in which a truck collides with an animal in the roadway; is hit by another vehicle in which the other driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol; is hit after the other driver runs a stop sign or stoplight; is hit by a truck while legally parked, or hits a pedestrian attempting to commit “suicide by truck.” 

Murray said that while it finishes its analysis, ATRI is seeking additional insight from the industry to add a study appendix outlining experiences with nonpreventable crashes so the research can include “real stories, not just data points.”