Truck Accident and Release Rates for Hazmat Routing

by Douglas W. Harwood, Midwest Research Inst, Kansas City, United States,
John G. Viner, Midwest Research Inst, Kansas City, United States,
Eugene R. Russell, Midwest Research Inst, Kansas City, United States,



Document Type: Proceeding Paper

Part of: State and Local Issues in Transportation of Hazardous Waste Materials: Towards a National Strategy

Abstract:

Estimates of accident and release rates are essential in the conduct of risk assessments in routing studies for highway transportation of hazardous materials. Recent published literature underscores both the importance of these rates in risk assessment and the significant shortcomings of the available data. Truck accident rates are developed in this paper as a function of roadway type and area type (urban/rural) from state data on highway geometrics, traffic volume, and accidents. Release probabilities in accidents are derived from a combination of federal and state truck accident data bases. A revised model for the accident probability portion of the DOT hazardous materials routing guidelines is recommended. Statistical tests are presented to determine whether accident rates based on site-specific data or systemwide values, such as those derived in this paper, should be used for any particular route segment.

Subject Headings: Traffic accidents | Hazardous substances | Risk management | Trucks | Transportation studies | Routing (transportation) | Traffic safety

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