The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is set to begin a comprehensive study examining the causes behind commercial vehicle crashes. The initiative, funded at $30 million by Congress in 2021, aims to improve safety standards for drivers, carriers, and the public.
According to FMCSA, the study will officially start early next year, with full details to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, August 28. Its stated goal is “to monitor crash trends and identify causes and contributing factors and develop effective safety improvement policies and programs.”
The agency plans to collect detailed data from 3,333 fatal crashes across 30 state jurisdictions. “This effort is aimed at identifying key driver, vehicle, motor carrier, and environmental factors that may contribute to fatal crashes involving heavy-duty trucks,” FMCSA explained.
Data collection is expected to take a minimum of two years to complete. During this time, the public will have opportunities to submit comments to help shape the findings and recommendations.
This study represents one of the most extensive federal efforts in recent years to better understand the dynamics of commercial truck crashes and to develop actionable solutions that enhance safety for everyone on the road.
Source: Marcus Wrinkler (Unsplash)
