Major Factors Leading to a CMV Driver Crash

By Freddy Starr, M.D., FAACAP, BCIA

Driver Mental Fitness and Decision Making: Analysis of the LTCCS (2007)

The Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), published in 2007 analyzed 120,000 large truck collisions between April 2001 and December 2003 involving vehicles over 10,000 pounds. The study was conducted by United States Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The full LTCCS can be viewed at the FMCSA website, at the following link:

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/facts-research/research-technology/analysis/fmcsa-rra-07-017.htm

Details of the LTCCS

A sample of 963 crashes involved 959 vehicles and 1123 trucks. There were 249 fatalities and 1654 injuries. Of the 1123 sampled trucks, 77% were pulling a semi-trailer, and 5% were carrying hazardous material.

The LTCCS study determined that fatigue, alcohol, and speeding were the three major factors in collisions overall. The study does not go so far as to link these factors to causation, but clearly highlights their association. Fatigue, alcohol, speeding and additional factors will be analyzed in the context of prevention from the standpoint of an examiner who is certified by The National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME).

Many of the 1000 features collected from each crash were considered, including driver condition, driver behavior, and ancillary reports from police, hospital and other professional witnesses to each crash. The following table reproduced from the FMCSA website delineates the reasons behind each analyzed collision.

Table 1 

Estimated Numbers of Trucks in All Crashes, by Critical Reasons

Critical Reasons	Number of Trucks	Percent of Total
Driver	68,000	87%
Non-Performance	9,000	12%
Recognition	22,000	28%
Decision	30,000	38%
Performance	7,000	9%
Vehicle	8,000	10%
Environment	2,000	3%
Total   Number of Large Trucks Coded with Critical Reason	78,000	100%
Total Number of Large Trucks Not Coded with Critical   Reason	63,000	—
Total   Number of Large Trucks Involved in Crashes	141,000	—

 

Notes: Results shown are national estimates for the 141,000 large trucks estimated to have been involved in fatal and injury crashes during the study period. The estimates may differ from true values, because they are based on a probability sample of crashes and not a census of all crashes. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 1000 large trucks.

Driver-critical reasons are coded in four categories:

• Non-Performance: The driver fell asleep, was disabled by a heart attack or seizure, or was physically impaired for another reason.
• Recognition: The driver was inattentive, was distracted by something inside or outside the vehicle, or failed to observe the situation adequately for some other reason.
• Decision: For example, the driver was driving too fast for conditions, misjudged the speed of other vehicles, or followed other vehicles too closely.
• Performance: For example, the driver panicked, overcompensated, or exercised poor directional control.

Of the 963 crashes in the LTCCS sample of 120,000 total collisions, 87% were due to driver error. This statistic is further broken down by category: Nonperformance, Recognition, Decision, and Performance. All of these factors may have some bearing on driver mental fitness, as can use of substances that decrease the nervous system’s ability to react. When combined with driving at unsafe speed relative to the environment, these factors account for the significant proportion of crashes.

The data is further divided into specific categories:

• Driver: Internal distraction 2%
• Driver: Illegal drugs 2%
• Driver: Alcohol 1%
• Driver: Inattention 9%
• Driver: Fatigue 13%
• Driver: Inadequate surveillance 14%
• Driver: Over-the-counter drug use 17%
• Total 58%

Decision and recognition account for over 50% of all crashes in the LTCCS

Recognition is the ability of the individual to correctly identify a target image. This is commonly tested using a mini mental status exam, and is the basis for the first several questions of the test. Recognition is an almost instantaneous process, and is the basis for proper decision making. If a driver is taking medication that decreases reaction time, they are more likely to suffer from decreased recognition.

Decision making can only occur if the driver has properly recognized the threat. If a driver is distracted and does not recognize a potentially dangerous situation, they will not be able to make a decision properly. If the driver does recognize a dangerous situation, their reactions become automated and they take appropriate actions on autopilot. These actions occur thousands of times per second in the average unimpaired driver. An impaired driver does not make appropriate decisions when a sudden and unexpected situation presents itself. Medications and alcohol decrease reaction time, and will impede the CMV driver’s ability to react. It is the responsibility of the Certified Medical Examiner to document discussion regarding any medications that may decrease decision making time.

What is the role of the Certified Medical Examiner?

By asking specific questions about the driver’s mental health, the medical examiner can glean details into the driver’s decision making. Performing a formal mental status exam, asking questions that specifically test recognition and decision making may aid in making a final determination regarding medical fitness for duty. Clearly, many large truck collisions are due to driver error. Driver error may be prevented by educated a driver about interactions of specific medications, side effects of medications, and the dangers of alcohol use within 24 hours of driving.

Since the FMCSA guidelines specify medical fitness for duty guidelines, you as the medical examiner could be held responsible for certifying an unfit driver and failing to comply with express regulations found on the FMSCA website. Following regulations set forth by FMCSA, conducting a proper examination and documenting candidate interactions will obviate any potential for medical neglect. Discussing potential risks with the driver candidate in a manner that is understandable and memorable could prevent a collision and loss of life.