Background Approximately one-third of fatal collisions between heavy trucks and passenger vehicles are head-on collisions, and one-third involve the front of the heavy truck hitting the side of the passenger vehicle. Heavy trucks are inevitably massive and rigid vehicles that present a risk to any collision partner. However, NHTSA's 2003 study of passenger vehicle weight and safety suggests that small cars and LTVs have exceptionally high risk of fatal collisions with heavy trucks. Since both small and large passenger vehicles are greatly outweighed by the heavy trucks, that suggests the small vehicles may have a compatibility problem in addition to the mass imbalance.

ObjectiveStudy fatal-collision rates between passenger vehicles and heavy trucks, especially where the front of the truck hits the front or the side of the passenger vehicle, and identify factors in either vehicle that increase risk.

Proposed Approach NHTSA's 2003 evaluation of vehicle weight and fatality risk developed methods and databases to study collision compatibility of cars and LTVs. Similar methods and data will be developed for studying collisions between passenger vehicles and heavy trucks, to statistically identify design factors in either vehicle that increase risk. A case-by-case review of these collisions in NASS will be helpful in identifying potential factors. The evaluation is based on existing data and it is likely to take about 2 years.