The subject of research into truck accidents with a view to
making safety modifications to trucks is steadily gaining in
importance.
In the light of newly compiled truck accident material
comprising 2000 cases from 1979 to 1983 the problem of truck
accidents can be assessed comprehensively. This study covers truck
accidents with pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles, cars,
truck/truck collisions and single-truck accidents. Because all
accident groups and their percentage weighting according to real
life are considered, it is possible to transfer the results to the
general accident occurrence. The internal structure of the accident
groups is contrasted with the official accident statistics in
significant accident parameters. The frequencies of essential
parameters, i.e. the kind of collision, the type of accident and
the risk for the truck occupants and the other traffic participants
involved are indicated.
It is the aim of this study to expand existing knowledge on
accidents involving trucks with regard to their characteristics,
i.e. frequencies, consequences of the accident and the essential
circumstances of the accident, and thus also to provide an improved
basis for decisions on technical development of trucks.