CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS: Company Car & Truck Accidents 

Traffic-related motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related injury death. They reduce our workforce by more than three workers each day. However, the environment in which these crashes occur is complex and may not be as controllable as other workplaces. Uncontrollable factors include aggressive or impaired drivers and motorists who ignore the dangers of sharing the road with commercial vehicles (for example, those who do not allow enough room for a truck to turn a corner).

Although the data reported here help us understand the magnitude and circumstances of U.S. worker deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, many factors remain unclear. Furthermore, because data are not available for total miles driven and miles driven classified by industry, occupation, season, and geographic location, the rates presented here per 100,000 workers may not accurately reflect the risk among worker groups.

Government and public safety organizations have long studied ways to prevent injuries from motor vehicle crashes. But researchers have paid little attention to preventing work-related motor vehicle crashes. Prevention efforts must be emphasized to reduce the number and rate of occupational fatalities involving motor vehicles.

Injury prevention and control technologies such as safety belts, air bags, daytime running lights, and vehicle design were developed to improve public safety; but they may also be applicable to workers whose jobs involve driving or travel by motor vehicles [CDC 1994]. Prevention efforts should include a combination of education, enforcement, and engineering controls. Companies with large fleets of motor vehicles can provide unique opportunities for researchers to study injury prevention strategies to begin answering the many remaining questions about risk factors and effective methods of injury prevention.

• From 1980 to 1992, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of work-related deaths in U.S. workers. During this period, traffic-related motor vehicle crashes accounted for the deaths of 15,830 workers—or 20% of all fatal workplace injuries.
• Also during that period, 1,997 worker deaths were associated with motor vehicle crashes that were not related to traffic on a public highway.
• The number of traffic-related deaths was eight times the number not related to traffic.

Preventing Construction Worker Injuries and Deaths from Traffic-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes

For the period 1990­92, NTOF data indicate that 3,066 workers died from motor vehicle crashes related to traffic [NIOSH 1996]. Of these worker deaths, 2,523 (82%) were successfully matched with FARS data. These deaths involved

    —2,438 events that involved at least one work-related fatality, and

    —2,104 motor vehicles occupied by at least one fatally injured worker.

The average annual fatality rate associated with motor vehicle crashes was 0.7 per 100,000 workers (note that the rates presented in this Alert are per 100,000 workers and are not calculated on the basis of miles driven).

The characteristics of the fatally injured workers, the events, and the vehicles involved are described in more detail as follows.

Table 1. Occupational deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes by age of worker, 1990­92
	Deaths
Age of worker	Number	%*	Rate†
16­19	77	3.1	0.5
20­24	222	8.8	0.6
25­29	306	12.1	0.7
30­34	360	14.3	0.7
35­39	330	13.1	0.7
40­44	256	10.2	0.6
45­49	271	10.7	0.8
50­54	235	9.3	0.9
55­59	192	7.6	0.9
60­64	141	5.6	1.0
65+	133	5.3	1.3
*Column does not add to 100 because of rounding. †Rates were calculated as number of deaths per 100,000 workers per year using annual average employment data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment and Earnings [DOL 1991, 1992, 1993].

Fatally Injured Workers

Sex.—Of the 2,523 workers fatally injured in traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 93% were male. The injury rate for male workers was 11 times that for female workers (1.2 compared with 0.1 per 100,000 workers).

Age.—Nearly 70% of the motor-vehicle-related fatalities occurred among workers aged 25 to 54. Workers aged 30 to 34 were involved in the highest number of fatalities (360), and workers aged 65 and older had the highest fatality rate—1.3 per 100,000 workers (Table 1).

Drivers, Passengers, and Pedestrians.—Most fatally injured workers were drivers (76%); 14% were pedestrians, and 9% were passengers.

Restraints.—Of the 2,158 fatally injured workers who were either drivers or passengers in a motor vehicle, 62% were not using any type of safety restraint. Thirteen percent used lap and shoulder belts, and nearly 5% used lap belts. Information about the type of restraint was not provided from the FARS data for 19% of these fatally injured workers.

Of the drivers who had BACs of  0.10 g/dl or higher,

        —33 were driving pickup trucks,

        —32 were driving tractor-trailer trucks, and

        —12 were driving 2- or 4-door sedans.

Industry and Occupation.—Of the 2,523 workers fatally injured in traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 35% (880) worked in the transportation/communication/public utilities industry. Industry sectors with the highest number of work-related deaths from motor vehicles were establishments engaged in trucking service (689) and construction (332). Sectors with rates three or more times the overall rate of work-related deaths from motor vehicles are listed in Table 2. Trucking service establishments had a rate 17 times the average annual rate of motor vehicle fatalities for all workers.

Of the 2,523 fatally injured workers, 43% (1,091) were employed in transportation and material moving occupations. Truck drivers had the highest number of work-related deaths from motor vehicles (973). Occupations with rates four or more times the average annual rate of death (per 100,000 workers) from motor vehicles are listed in Table 3. Truck drivers had the highest rate, followed closely by garbage collectors.

Events
Of the 2,438 motor vehicle events that involved at least one work-related fatality, 1,073 (44%) involved a collision with an object other than a moving motor vehicle (Table 4). Of these 1,073 collisions, 243 (23%) involved a collision with a pedestrian.

More than half of the 2,438 motor vehicle events occurred on State highways (27%) and interstate highways (24%) (see Table 5). One-hundred and forty-seven (6%) of the 2,438 motor vehicle events occurred in a highway construction or maintenance zone; 79 (54%) of the 147 events involved pedestrians. Of the 2,438 events, 65% (1,594) occurred during daylight; 82% (1,987) occurred on dry roadways; and 85% (2,077) occurred during normal weather conditions.

Vehicles
 

The 2,104 motor vehicles occupied by at least one fatally injured worker were of the following types:

Vehicle type 
Number

 
 
Tractor-trailer truck..... 741 (35%)
Pickup truck................. 329 (16%)
2- or 4-door sedan....... 299 (14%)
Other............................ 735 (35%)

The Other category includes such vehicles as vans, farm equipment being operated on a public highway, station wagons, and compact utility vehicles.

The most harmful event* for 291 (39%) of the 741 tractor-trailer trucks was an overturn. Of the 741 tractor-trailer trucks, 125 (17%) were involved in collisions with another moving motor vehicle and 90 (12%) were involved in fires or explosions.

Table

Table 2. Industry sectors with the highest average annual rates of deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 1990­92
	Deaths
Sector and BOC* code	Number	Rate†
Trucking service (410)	689	12.1
Logging (230)	39	9.0
Fuel dealers (672)	19	5.6
Petroleum products (552)	24	5.2
Agriculture crop production (010)	124	4.2
Sanitary service (471)	37	4.1
Taxicab service (402)	13	3.9
Farm supplies (561)	12	2.9
Oil and gas extraction (042)	31	2.6
Bus service (401)	34	2.3
Coal mining (041)	9	2.1
*Bureau of Census. Industries were classified according to the 1980 Census of Population: Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1982] and to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Classified Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1992]. †Rates were calculated as number of deaths per 100,000 workers per year using employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey [BLS 1992] microdata. Rates were not calculated for cases with insufficient information to categorize into specific industries.

 

Table

Table 3. Occupations with the highest average annual rates of death from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 1990­92
	Deaths
Occupation and BOC* code	Number	Rate†
Truck driver (804)	973	12.2
Garbage collector (875)	16	11.5
Sheriff/bailiff (423)	24	7.1
Supervisor, farm worker (477)	6	5.2
Surveying and mapping technician (218)	11	5.1
Policeman/detective (418)	70	4.9
Taxicab driver (809)	29	4.7
Logging occupations (496)	11	4.3
Construction laborer (869)	82	3.9
Operating engineers (844)	23	3.7
*Bureau of Census. Occupations were classified according to the 1980 Census of Population: Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1982] and to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Classified Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1992]. †Rates were calculated as number of deaths per 100,000 workers per year using employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey [BLS 1992] microdata. Rates were not calculated for cases with insufficient information to categorize into specific industries.

Table 4. Occupational deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes by type, 1990­92
	Deaths
Type of event	Number	% total
Collisions with other objects	1,073	44.0
Pedestrian*	243	22.7
Guardrail	153	14.3
Tree	107	10.0
Rail train	86	8.0
Other	484	45.1
Collisions with other moving motor vehicle	884	36.3
Head-on	297	33.6
Angle	293	33.1
Rear-end	237	26.8
Other	57	6.4
Non-collision event	481	19.7
Overturn	414	86.1
Fell from vehicle	35	7.3
Other	32	6.6
Total	2,438	100.0
*Although 243 events were initiated by a motor vehicle striking a pedestrian, 345 pedestrians were fatally injured at work in the 2,438 events.

Table 5. Occupational deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle events by type of roadway, 1990­92
	Deaths
Type of roadway	Number	% total*
State highway	657	27.0
Interstate	587	24.1
U.S. highway	487	20.0
County road	380	15.6
Municipality	177	7.3
Township	75	3.1
Other	69	2.8
Unknown	6	0.3
Total	2,438	100.0
*Column does not add to 100 because of rounding.

The 331 motor vehicles that struck a pedestrian were of the following types:

Vehicle type 
Number

 
 
2- to 4-door sedan.............. 123 (37%)
Tractor-trailer truck............  48 (15%)
Pickup truck.......................  45 (14%)
Other................................ 115 (35%)

CURRENT REGULATIONS
 
Two Federal agencies hold the primary responsibility for setting and enforcing motor vehicle standards: the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and NHTSA.

FHWA - The FHWA under the U.S. Department of Transportation regulates and enforces Federal requirements relating to the safe operation and equipment for commercial motor carriers under 49 CFR† 350­399 as follows:

• All commercial motor vehicle operators shall be required to have a single commercial motor vehicle driver's license [49 CFR 383.23(a)(2)].
• Drivers shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle while the driver's ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become impaired, through fatigue, illness, or any other cause, as to make it unsafe for him/her to begin or continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle [49 CFR 392.3].
• Drivers shall not be on duty and possess, be under the influence of, or use any controlled drug or substance, including any amphetamines, narcotic drugs, or any other substance that renders the driver incapable of safely operating a commercial motor vehicle. This does not apply to any substance administered by a physician who has advised the driver that the substance will not affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle [49 CFR 392.4].
• Drivers shall not be under the influence of alcohol or possess an alcoholic beverage while on duty [49 CFR 392.5].
• Motor carriers shall not schedule a run nor permit nor require the operation of any commercial motor vehicle between points in such period of time as would necessitate the commercial motor vehicle being operated at speeds greater than those prescribed [49 CFR 392.6].
• Commercial motor vehicles shall not be driven unless the driver thereof has satisfied himself or herself that all parts and accessories are in good working order [49 CFR 392.7].
• A commercial motor vehicle that has a seat belt assembly installed at the driver's seat shall not be driven unless the driver has properly restrained himself or herself with the seat belt assembly [49 CFR 392.16].
• Commercial motor vehicle operators must comply with the maximum driving and on-duty time as set forth by 49 CFR 395.3(a)-(b), which defines acceptable patterns of consecutive driving and off-duty hours.

NHTSA - The NHTSA (also under the U.S. Department of Transportation) is responsible for setting and enforcing safety performance and use standards for motor vehicle equipment under 49 CFR 500­599. These standards pertain to all vehicles manufactured in the United States. The Administration also sets and enforces safety standards to ensure that motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment imported into the United States conform with all Federal motor vehicle safety standards. All vehicles purchased should be equipped with appropriate crash protection for occupants, as prescribed by 49 CFR 571.208.

Other Regulations -  FHWA and NHTSA also have responsibilities in areas other than regulating motor carriers, drivers, and vehicle regulatory issues. NHTSA and the FHWA Office of Motor Carriers are responsible for overseeing State-sponsored or -conducted education and enforcement activities. In addition, all States and local communities have programs that can affect the work environment (i.e., the streets and roads). Components of the Child Labor Requirements Under the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations (for example, those for logging and construction) also address the safe operation of motor vehicles for particular populations or settings.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Companies must rely on their own experience when establishing safety procedures. Any employer who is developing and implementing a comprehensive traffic safety program for the workplace must gather and analyze internal data so that the company's program targets the problems that will reduce the crashes, deaths, and injuries. The recommendations presented here highlight the issues to keep in mind when developing these safety programs.

NIOSH recommends that employers take the following measures to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries of workers from motor vehicle crashes:

• Conduct driver's license background checks on prospective drivers before they are hired.
• Establish a written policy requiring drivers and passengers to use seat belts at all times. Make sure that employees are aware of and comply with this written policy.
• Provide a seat belt for the driver and each passenger in all employer-provided vehicles. Limit the number of passengers permitted in a vehicle to the number of seat belts available.
• Ensure that drivers comply with designated speed limits in all construction and maintenance zones and on all other roadways.
  Establish schedules that allow drivers to obey speed limits and limit their hours of service according to regulations. Do not permit workers to drive while fatigued or to exceed posted speed limits.
• Ensure that all employees in construction and maintenance zones wear high-visibility clothing [NIOSH 1994].
• Ensure that workers use appropriate barriers and traffic control efforts while work is being performed on the sides of roadways normally open to the public.
• Train drivers in safe driving practices and proper use of vehicle safety features. Make sure that this training is performance-based and periodically repeated.
• Establish written procedures to ensure the proper maintenance of all vehicle systems.
• Make sure that newly purchased vehicles are equipped with appropriate occupant protection such as shoulder and lap belts and air bags. Equip new vehicles with other safety features such as antilock brakes and daytime running lights where appropriate and feasible.
• Consider adopting U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for commercial motor carriers as part of your motor vehicle safety programs. Many of these regulations provide guidance on company policies for other vehicle types and other groups of drivers.

NIOSH recommends that researchers thoroughly evaluate existing and proposed prevention strategies and further investigate the causes and circumstances of work-related motor vehicle crashes. Research areas include the following:

• Classifying work-related miles driven by industry and occupation to identify industries and occupations at highest risk and risk variations by season, time of day, and State
• Studying issues such as the optimal use of training and communication strategies to improve knowledge of and compliance with safety regulations by workers and employers
• Determining whether existing regulations should be enforced more consistently or whether new regulations are required to reduce the number of worker deaths associated with motor vehicles
• Assessing the efficacy of vehicle maintenance plans and work zone designs
• Collecting and analyzing detailed data on the causes of work-related motor vehicle crashes to target effectively the most appropriate areas for intervention efforts
• Determining the need for improved commercial vehicle design (such as improved occupant protection systems for heavy trucks and other commercial vehicles).
   

If you have been injured as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.  You should understand that every construction company and insurance company has a team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose primary responsibility is to limit the liability of the insurance company and minimize the amount of money to be paid to injured parties.  Often, victims are bombarded with paperwork and critical evidence is destroyed immediately following an accident.  If you have been injured in a car or truck accident, fill out the form below. An experienced personal injury lawyer will review your claim and may contact you to discuss your legal rights. There is no charge or obligation for this free evaluation.

CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENTS: Company Car & Truck Accidents 

Traffic-related motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of work-related injury death. They reduce our workforce by more than three workers each day. However, the environment in which these crashes occur is complex and may not be as controllable as other workplaces. Uncontrollable factors include aggressive or impaired drivers and motorists who ignore the dangers of sharing the road with commercial vehicles (for example, those who do not allow enough room for a truck to turn a corner).

Although the data reported here help us understand the magnitude and circumstances of U.S. worker deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, many factors remain unclear. Furthermore, because data are not available for total miles driven and miles driven classified by industry, occupation, season, and geographic location, the rates presented here per 100,000 workers may not accurately reflect the risk among worker groups.

Government and public safety organizations have long studied ways to prevent injuries from motor vehicle crashes. But researchers have paid little attention to preventing work-related motor vehicle crashes. Prevention efforts must be emphasized to reduce the number and rate of occupational fatalities involving motor vehicles.

Injury prevention and control technologies such as safety belts, air bags, daytime running lights, and vehicle design were developed to improve public safety; but they may also be applicable to workers whose jobs involve driving or travel by motor vehicles [CDC 1994]. Prevention efforts should include a combination of education, enforcement, and engineering controls. Companies with large fleets of motor vehicles can provide unique opportunities for researchers to study injury prevention strategies to begin answering the many remaining questions about risk factors and effective methods of injury prevention.

• From 1980 to 1992, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of work-related deaths in U.S. workers. During this period, traffic-related motor vehicle crashes accounted for the deaths of 15,830 workers—or 20% of all fatal workplace injuries.
• Also during that period, 1,997 worker deaths were associated with motor vehicle crashes that were not related to traffic on a public highway.
• The number of traffic-related deaths was eight times the number not related to traffic.

Preventing Construction Worker Injuries and Deaths from Traffic-Related Motor Vehicle Crashes

For the period 1990­92, NTOF data indicate that 3,066 workers died from motor vehicle crashes related to traffic [NIOSH 1996]. Of these worker deaths, 2,523 (82%) were successfully matched with FARS data. These deaths involved

    —2,438 events that involved at least one work-related fatality, and

    —2,104 motor vehicles occupied by at least one fatally injured worker.

The average annual fatality rate associated with motor vehicle crashes was 0.7 per 100,000 workers (note that the rates presented in this Alert are per 100,000 workers and are not calculated on the basis of miles driven).

The characteristics of the fatally injured workers, the events, and the vehicles involved are described in more detail as follows.

Table 1. Occupational deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes by age of worker, 1990­92
	Deaths
Age of worker	Number	%*	Rate†
16­19	77	3.1	0.5
20­24	222	8.8	0.6
25­29	306	12.1	0.7
30­34	360	14.3	0.7
35­39	330	13.1	0.7
40­44	256	10.2	0.6
45­49	271	10.7	0.8
50­54	235	9.3	0.9
55­59	192	7.6	0.9
60­64	141	5.6	1.0
65+	133	5.3	1.3
*Column does not add to 100 because of rounding. †Rates were calculated as number of deaths per 100,000 workers per year using annual average employment data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment and Earnings [DOL 1991, 1992, 1993].

Fatally Injured Workers

Sex.—Of the 2,523 workers fatally injured in traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 93% were male. The injury rate for male workers was 11 times that for female workers (1.2 compared with 0.1 per 100,000 workers).

Age.—Nearly 70% of the motor-vehicle-related fatalities occurred among workers aged 25 to 54. Workers aged 30 to 34 were involved in the highest number of fatalities (360), and workers aged 65 and older had the highest fatality rate—1.3 per 100,000 workers (Table 1).

Drivers, Passengers, and Pedestrians.—Most fatally injured workers were drivers (76%); 14% were pedestrians, and 9% were passengers.

Restraints.—Of the 2,158 fatally injured workers who were either drivers or passengers in a motor vehicle, 62% were not using any type of safety restraint. Thirteen percent used lap and shoulder belts, and nearly 5% used lap belts. Information about the type of restraint was not provided from the FARS data for 19% of these fatally injured workers.

Of the drivers who had BACs of  0.10 g/dl or higher,

        —33 were driving pickup trucks,

        —32 were driving tractor-trailer trucks, and

        —12 were driving 2- or 4-door sedans.

Industry and Occupation.—Of the 2,523 workers fatally injured in traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 35% (880) worked in the transportation/communication/public utilities industry. Industry sectors with the highest number of work-related deaths from motor vehicles were establishments engaged in trucking service (689) and construction (332). Sectors with rates three or more times the overall rate of work-related deaths from motor vehicles are listed in Table 2. Trucking service establishments had a rate 17 times the average annual rate of motor vehicle fatalities for all workers.

Of the 2,523 fatally injured workers, 43% (1,091) were employed in transportation and material moving occupations. Truck drivers had the highest number of work-related deaths from motor vehicles (973). Occupations with rates four or more times the average annual rate of death (per 100,000 workers) from motor vehicles are listed in Table 3. Truck drivers had the highest rate, followed closely by garbage collectors.

Events
Of the 2,438 motor vehicle events that involved at least one work-related fatality, 1,073 (44%) involved a collision with an object other than a moving motor vehicle (Table 4). Of these 1,073 collisions, 243 (23%) involved a collision with a pedestrian.

More than half of the 2,438 motor vehicle events occurred on State highways (27%) and interstate highways (24%) (see Table 5). One-hundred and forty-seven (6%) of the 2,438 motor vehicle events occurred in a highway construction or maintenance zone; 79 (54%) of the 147 events involved pedestrians. Of the 2,438 events, 65% (1,594) occurred during daylight; 82% (1,987) occurred on dry roadways; and 85% (2,077) occurred during normal weather conditions.

Vehicles
 

The 2,104 motor vehicles occupied by at least one fatally injured worker were of the following types:

Vehicle type 
Number

 
 
Tractor-trailer truck..... 741 (35%)
Pickup truck................. 329 (16%)
2- or 4-door sedan....... 299 (14%)
Other............................ 735 (35%)

The Other category includes such vehicles as vans, farm equipment being operated on a public highway, station wagons, and compact utility vehicles.

The most harmful event* for 291 (39%) of the 741 tractor-trailer trucks was an overturn. Of the 741 tractor-trailer trucks, 125 (17%) were involved in collisions with another moving motor vehicle and 90 (12%) were involved in fires or explosions.

Table

Table 2. Industry sectors with the highest average annual rates of deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 1990­92
	Deaths
Sector and BOC* code	Number	Rate†
Trucking service (410)	689	12.1
Logging (230)	39	9.0
Fuel dealers (672)	19	5.6
Petroleum products (552)	24	5.2
Agriculture crop production (010)	124	4.2
Sanitary service (471)	37	4.1
Taxicab service (402)	13	3.9
Farm supplies (561)	12	2.9
Oil and gas extraction (042)	31	2.6
Bus service (401)	34	2.3
Coal mining (041)	9	2.1
*Bureau of Census. Industries were classified according to the 1980 Census of Population: Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1982] and to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Classified Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1992]. †Rates were calculated as number of deaths per 100,000 workers per year using employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey [BLS 1992] microdata. Rates were not calculated for cases with insufficient information to categorize into specific industries.

 

Table

Table 3. Occupations with the highest average annual rates of death from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes, 1990­92
	Deaths
Occupation and BOC* code	Number	Rate†
Truck driver (804)	973	12.2
Garbage collector (875)	16	11.5
Sheriff/bailiff (423)	24	7.1
Supervisor, farm worker (477)	6	5.2
Surveying and mapping technician (218)	11	5.1
Policeman/detective (418)	70	4.9
Taxicab driver (809)	29	4.7
Logging occupations (496)	11	4.3
Construction laborer (869)	82	3.9
Operating engineers (844)	23	3.7
*Bureau of Census. Occupations were classified according to the 1980 Census of Population: Alphabetical Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1982] and to the 1990 Census of Population and Housing: Classified Index of Industries and Occupations [U.S. Department of Commerce 1992]. †Rates were calculated as number of deaths per 100,000 workers per year using employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Current Population Survey [BLS 1992] microdata. Rates were not calculated for cases with insufficient information to categorize into specific industries.

Table 4. Occupational deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle crashes by type, 1990­92
	Deaths
Type of event	Number	% total
Collisions with other objects	1,073	44.0
Pedestrian*	243	22.7
Guardrail	153	14.3
Tree	107	10.0
Rail train	86	8.0
Other	484	45.1
Collisions with other moving motor vehicle	884	36.3
Head-on	297	33.6
Angle	293	33.1
Rear-end	237	26.8
Other	57	6.4
Non-collision event	481	19.7
Overturn	414	86.1
Fell from vehicle	35	7.3
Other	32	6.6
Total	2,438	100.0
*Although 243 events were initiated by a motor vehicle striking a pedestrian, 345 pedestrians were fatally injured at work in the 2,438 events.

Table 5. Occupational deaths from traffic-related motor vehicle events by type of roadway, 1990­92
	Deaths
Type of roadway	Number	% total*
State highway	657	27.0
Interstate	587	24.1
U.S. highway	487	20.0
County road	380	15.6
Municipality	177	7.3
Township	75	3.1
Other	69	2.8
Unknown	6	0.3
Total	2,438	100.0
*Column does not add to 100 because of rounding.

The 331 motor vehicles that struck a pedestrian were of the following types:

Vehicle type 
Number

 
 
2- to 4-door sedan.............. 123 (37%)
Tractor-trailer truck............  48 (15%)
Pickup truck.......................  45 (14%)
Other................................ 115 (35%)

CURRENT REGULATIONS
 
Two Federal agencies hold the primary responsibility for setting and enforcing motor vehicle standards: the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and NHTSA.

FHWA - The FHWA under the U.S. Department of Transportation regulates and enforces Federal requirements relating to the safe operation and equipment for commercial motor carriers under 49 CFR† 350­399 as follows:

• All commercial motor vehicle operators shall be required to have a single commercial motor vehicle driver's license [49 CFR 383.23(a)(2)].
• Drivers shall not operate a commercial motor vehicle while the driver's ability or alertness is so impaired, or so likely to become impaired, through fatigue, illness, or any other cause, as to make it unsafe for him/her to begin or continue to operate the commercial motor vehicle [49 CFR 392.3].
• Drivers shall not be on duty and possess, be under the influence of, or use any controlled drug or substance, including any amphetamines, narcotic drugs, or any other substance that renders the driver incapable of safely operating a commercial motor vehicle. This does not apply to any substance administered by a physician who has advised the driver that the substance will not affect the driver's ability to safely operate a commercial motor vehicle [49 CFR 392.4].
• Drivers shall not be under the influence of alcohol or possess an alcoholic beverage while on duty [49 CFR 392.5].
• Motor carriers shall not schedule a run nor permit nor require the operation of any commercial motor vehicle between points in such period of time as would necessitate the commercial motor vehicle being operated at speeds greater than those prescribed [49 CFR 392.6].
• Commercial motor vehicles shall not be driven unless the driver thereof has satisfied himself or herself that all parts and accessories are in good working order [49 CFR 392.7].
• A commercial motor vehicle that has a seat belt assembly installed at the driver's seat shall not be driven unless the driver has properly restrained himself or herself with the seat belt assembly [49 CFR 392.16].
• Commercial motor vehicle operators must comply with the maximum driving and on-duty time as set forth by 49 CFR 395.3(a)-(b), which defines acceptable patterns of consecutive driving and off-duty hours.

NHTSA - The NHTSA (also under the U.S. Department of Transportation) is responsible for setting and enforcing safety performance and use standards for motor vehicle equipment under 49 CFR 500­599. These standards pertain to all vehicles manufactured in the United States. The Administration also sets and enforces safety standards to ensure that motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment imported into the United States conform with all Federal motor vehicle safety standards. All vehicles purchased should be equipped with appropriate crash protection for occupants, as prescribed by 49 CFR 571.208.

Other Regulations -  FHWA and NHTSA also have responsibilities in areas other than regulating motor carriers, drivers, and vehicle regulatory issues. NHTSA and the FHWA Office of Motor Carriers are responsible for overseeing State-sponsored or -conducted education and enforcement activities. In addition, all States and local communities have programs that can affect the work environment (i.e., the streets and roads). Components of the Child Labor Requirements Under the Fair Labor Standards Act and certain Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations (for example, those for logging and construction) also address the safe operation of motor vehicles for particular populations or settings.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Companies must rely on their own experience when establishing safety procedures. Any employer who is developing and implementing a comprehensive traffic safety program for the workplace must gather and analyze internal data so that the company's program targets the problems that will reduce the crashes, deaths, and injuries. The recommendations presented here highlight the issues to keep in mind when developing these safety programs.

NIOSH recommends that employers take the following measures to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries of workers from motor vehicle crashes:

• Conduct driver's license background checks on prospective drivers before they are hired.
• Establish a written policy requiring drivers and passengers to use seat belts at all times. Make sure that employees are aware of and comply with this written policy.
• Provide a seat belt for the driver and each passenger in all employer-provided vehicles. Limit the number of passengers permitted in a vehicle to the number of seat belts available.
• Ensure that drivers comply with designated speed limits in all construction and maintenance zones and on all other roadways.
  Establish schedules that allow drivers to obey speed limits and limit their hours of service according to regulations. Do not permit workers to drive while fatigued or to exceed posted speed limits.
• Ensure that all employees in construction and maintenance zones wear high-visibility clothing [NIOSH 1994].
• Ensure that workers use appropriate barriers and traffic control efforts while work is being performed on the sides of roadways normally open to the public.
• Train drivers in safe driving practices and proper use of vehicle safety features. Make sure that this training is performance-based and periodically repeated.
• Establish written procedures to ensure the proper maintenance of all vehicle systems.
• Make sure that newly purchased vehicles are equipped with appropriate occupant protection such as shoulder and lap belts and air bags. Equip new vehicles with other safety features such as antilock brakes and daytime running lights where appropriate and feasible.
• Consider adopting U.S. Department of Transportation regulations for commercial motor carriers as part of your motor vehicle safety programs. Many of these regulations provide guidance on company policies for other vehicle types and other groups of drivers.

NIOSH recommends that researchers thoroughly evaluate existing and proposed prevention strategies and further investigate the causes and circumstances of work-related motor vehicle crashes. Research areas include the following:

• Classifying work-related miles driven by industry and occupation to identify industries and occupations at highest risk and risk variations by season, time of day, and State
• Studying issues such as the optimal use of training and communication strategies to improve knowledge of and compliance with safety regulations by workers and employers
• Determining whether existing regulations should be enforced more consistently or whether new regulations are required to reduce the number of worker deaths associated with motor vehicles
• Assessing the efficacy of vehicle maintenance plans and work zone designs
• Collecting and analyzing detailed data on the causes of work-related motor vehicle crashes to target effectively the most appropriate areas for intervention efforts
• Determining the need for improved commercial vehicle design (such as improved occupant protection systems for heavy trucks and other commercial vehicles).
   

If you have been injured as a result of the carelessness or negligence of another, you may be entitled to monetary compensation.  You should understand that every construction company and insurance company has a team of adjusters, investigators and attorneys whose primary responsibility is to limit the liability of the insurance company and minimize the amount of money to be paid to injured parties.  Often, victims are bombarded with paperwork and critical evidence is destroyed immediately following an accident.  If you have been injured in a car or truck accident, fill out the form below. An experienced personal injury lawyer will review your claim and may contact you to discuss your legal rights. There is no charge or obligation for this free evaluation.

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