Below are the first 10 and last 10 pages of uncorrected machine-read text (when available) of this chapter, followed by the top 30 algorithmically extracted key phrases from the chapter as a whole.
Intended to provide our own search engines and external engines with highly rich, chapter-representative searchable text on the opening pages of each chapter.
Because it is UNCORRECTED material, please consider the following text as a useful but insufficient proxy for the authoritative book pages.
Do not use for reproduction, copying, pasting, or reading; exclusively for search engines.
OCR for page 97
Potential Measures for Improving the Identification of Root Causes for Hazardous Materials Crashes 97
izes the hazmat information system, including driver characteristics (e.g., age and experience);
hazmat package characteristics (e.g., tank type and age); and vehicle characteristics, carrier char-
acteristics, and mileage traveled. With this information, an analyst can mine a dataset and search
for the common contributing causes of various classes of hazmat accidents. For example, with-
out information on the number of hazmat truck drivers in various age and experience categories,
it is impossible to determine those age and experience categories that are over-represented in
hazmat accidents.
Note that this kind of analysis is appropriate to identify coarse-grained factors that increase
risk. For example, the result could be used to determine that older or younger drivers are at
higher risk. This should be used with stable characteristics, such as age, vehicle type, and road
type, but cannot be used to identify specific errors or transitory conditions that generated a crash,
such as a distracted driver or tire failure.
Currently, PHMSA is completing Phase I of the Multi Modal Hazmat Intelligence Portal
(HIP) system. The system is being designed to acquire hazmat information at a single location.
Under HIP, data from FAA, FMCSA, NTSB, the Coast Guard, and PHMSA will be available by
carrier, shipper, manufacturer, and packaging company. Only parts of the system, which is being
designed for the enforcement staff, will be available to the public. Although FMCSA is supply-
ing cargo tank and hazmat compliance reviews as well as inspection results, sharing hazmat
crashes in the MCMIS database is not yet part of the system and PHMSA has no immediate plan
to incorporate this information into HIP. The incorporation of crash files in the future could
enhance system capability.
5.2.2 Availability of Carrier Characteristics Inventory Information
for Analysis with Accident Data
FMCSA maintains both the MCMIS Census and Crash files. The MCMIS Census file contains
inventory information that, if routinely updated and validated, could be useful for identifying
which motor carrier characteristics are over-represented in hazmat crashes. A study that made
such comparisons for a targeted group of 100 accidents over a one-year period might identify
changes to the type of inventory information that should be collected. As a result, a program could
be initiated requiring that the new information be obtained when existing carriers re-register and
new carriers register for the first time.
PHMSA has an annual hazmat carrier registration requirement. These data also could be
used to determine which carrier characteristics are being over-represented in hazmat crashes.
It is likely that additional information would be required on the vehicle configuration, pack-
aging, and driver if one wished to determine whether these characteristics are being over-
represented in hazmat accidents. Clearly, changes to the data elements in the current HMIRS
and Hazmat Registration file would be required to capture more than carrier inventory data.
Note that although privacy issues arise when a driver's name is tied to age, experience, phys-
ical condition, or the extent of injuries, there is no privacy issue if the driver's name, license
number, or Social Security number is not associated with the physical characteristics of
the driver. Packaging could be handled in a similar fashion, without disclosing any business-
sensitive information.
5.2.3 Add or Modify Inventory Data in Databases
This subsection includes specific potential measures for adding inventory data to the system
in key locations such as in the major incident databases or supplemental databases such as
PHMSA Registration Database or MCMIS Census file.
