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CTBSSP
COMMERCIAL
TRUCK AND
BUS SAFETY
SYNTHESIS 18
Older Commercial Drivers:
Do They Pose a Safety Risk? Sponsored by the
Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration
A Synthesis of Safety Practice
OCR for page R2
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH COMMITTEE*
ACRP OVERSIGHT BOARD 2010 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE*
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD 2009 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
CHAIR OFFICERS
OFFICERS
James Wilding CHAIR: Adib K. Kanafani, Cahill Professor of Civil Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
Chair: Michael R. Morris,
Independent Director of Transportation, North
Consultant Central
VICE Texas Council
CHAIR: Michael of Governments,
R. Morris, Arlington
Director of Transportation, North Central Texas Council of
Vice Chair: Neil J. Pedersen, Administrator, Maryland State Governments,
Highway Administration,
Arlington Baltimore
VICE CHAIR
Executive Director: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Transportation Research Board
Jeff Hamiel
MEMBERS MinneapolisSt. Paul MEMBERS
Metropolitan Airports Commission
J. BARRY BARKER, Executive Director, Transit Authority J. of River
Barry City, Louisville,
Barker, KY
Executive Director, Transit Authority of River City, Louisville, KY
ALLEN D. BIEHLER,
MEMBERS Secretary, Pennsylvania DOT, Harrisburg
Allen D. Biehler, Secretary, Pennsylvania DOT, Harrisburg
LARRY L. BROWN,
James Crites
SR., Executive Director, Mississippi Larry DOT, L. Jackson
Brown, Sr., Executive Director, Mississippi DOT, Jackson
DEBORAH DallasFort
H. BUTLER, Executive
Worth ViceAirport
International President, Planning, and CIO,
Deborah Norfolk
H. Butler, Southern
Executive Corporation,
Vice Norfolk, VA
President, Planning, and CIO, Norfolk Southern Corporation,
WILLIAM A.V. CLARK,
Richard Professor, Department of Geography,
de Neufville University
Norfolk, VA of California, Los Angeles
EUGENE A. Massachusetts
CONTI, JR., Institute of Technology
Secretary of Transportation, North Carolina
William A.V.DOT,
Clark,Raleigh
Professor, Department of Geography, University of California, Los Angeles
Kevin C. Dolliole
NICHOLASUnisonJ. GARBER, Henry
Consulting L. Kinnier Professor, David
Department S. Ekern,
of Civil Engineering,
Commissioner, and Director,
Virginia DOT, Center for Transportation Studies,
Richmond
UniversityJohn
of Virginia,
K. DuvalCharlottesville Nicholas J. Garber, Henry L. Kinnier Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of
JEFFREY W. HAMIEL,
Beverly Executive
Municipal Airport Director, Metropolitan AirportsVirginia, Charlottesville
Commission, Minneapolis, MN
Kitty Freidheim
PAULA J. HAMMOND, Secretary, Washington State DOT, Jeffrey
OlympiaW. Hamiel, Executive Director, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Minneapolis, MN
Freidheim Consulting Edward A. (Ned) Helme, President, Center for Clean Air Policy, Washington, DC
EDWARD A. (NED)
Steve HELME, President, Center for Clean
Grossman Air Policy, Washington, DC
ADIB K. KANAFANI, Cahill Professor
Jacksonville Aviation Authority of Civil Engineering,Randell
UniversityH. Iwasaki,
of Director,
California, California
Berkeley DOT, Sacramento
Tom Jensen
SUSAN MARTINOVICH, Director, Nevada DOT, CarsonSusan City Martinovich, Director, Nevada DOT, Carson City
National Safe
DEBRA L. MILLER, Skies Alliance
Secretary, Kansas DOT, Topeka Debra L. Miller, Secretary, Kansas DOT, Topeka
Catherine M. Lang Neil J. Pedersen, Administrator, Maryland State Highway Administration, Baltimore
SANDRA ROSENBLOOM, Professor of Planning, University of Arizona, Tucson
Federal Aviation Administration Pete K. Rahn, Director, Missouri DOT, Jefferson City
TRACY L. ROSSER, Vice
Gina Marie LindseyPresident, Corporate Traffic, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Mandeville, LA
Sandra Rosenbloom, Professor of Planning, University of Arizona, Tucson
STEVEN T. Los Angeles World
SCALZO, Chief Airports
Operating Officer, Marine Resources Group, Seattle, WA
Carolyn Motz Tracy L. Rosser, Vice President, Regional General Manager, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Mandeville, LA
HENRY G. (GERRY) SCHWARTZ, JR., Chairman (retired),
Hagerstown Regional Airport Rosa Jacobs/Sverdrup
Clausell Rountree, Civil, Inc., St. Louis,
CEOGeneral MO Transroute International Canada Services, Inc.,
Manager,
BEVERLY A. SCOTT,
Richard TuckerGeneral Manager and Chief Executive Officer, Metropolitan
Pitt Meadows, BC Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta, GA
DAVID SELTZER, Principal,
Huntsville InternationalMercator
Airport Advisors LLC, Philadelphia, PA Chief Operating Officer, Marine Resources Group, Seattle, WA
Steven T. Scalzo,
DANIEL SPERLING, Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Henry G. (Gerry) Science and Policy;
Schwartz, Director,
Jr., Chairman Institute
(retired), of Transportation
Jacobs/Sverdrup Studies;
Civil, Inc., St. Louis, MO
EX
and Interim OFFICIO
Director, MEMBERS
Energy Efficiency Center, University of California, Davis
C. Michael Walton, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial Chair in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin
KIRK T. STEUDLE, Director, Michigan DOT, Lansing Linda S. Watson, CEO, LYNXCentral Florida Regional Transportation Authority, Orlando
Sabrina Johnson
DOUGLAS U.S. Environmental
W. STOTLAR, Protectionand
President Agency
CEO, Con-Way,SteveInc., Williams,
Ann Arbor, MI
Chairman and CEO, Maverick Transportation, Inc., Little Rock, AR
Richard Marchi
C. MICHAEL WALTON, Ernest H. Cockrell Centennial
Airports Council International--North America Chair in Engineering, University of Texas, Austin
Laura McKee EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
EX OFFICIO MEMBERS
Air Transport Association of America Thad Allen (Adm., U.S. Coast Guard), Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Washington, DC
Henry Ogrodzinski
PETER H. APPEL, Administrator, Research and Innovative
National Association of State Aviation Officials Technology
Peter H. Appel,Administration,
Administrator,U.S.DOT
Research and Innovative Technology Administration, U.S.DOT
J. RANDOLPH BABBITT,
Melissa Sabatine Administrator, Federal Aviation J. Randolph Babbitt,
Administration, U.S.DOT
Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S.DOT
REBECCA M. BREWSTER,
American AssociationPresident
of Airport and COO, American
Executives Rebecca M. Brewster,
Transportation President
Research and COO,
Institute, American
Smyrna, GA Transportation Research Institute, Smyrna, G
Robert E. Skinner, President
GEORGE BUGLIARELLO, Jr. George
Emeritus and University Bugliarello,
Professor, PresidentInstitute
Polytechnic Emeritus ofand
NewUniversity Professor,
York University, Polytechnic Institute of New York
Brooklyn;
Transportation Research Board University, Brooklyn; Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC
Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Engineering, Washington, DC
ANNE S. FERRO, Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety JamesAdministration,
E. Caponiti, Acting Deputy Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S.DOT
U.S.DOT
SECRETARY
LEROY GISHI, Chief, Division of Transportation, Bureau Cynthia of IndianDouglass, Acting
Affairs, U.S. Deputy Administrator,
Department Pipeline
of the Interior, and Hazardous
Washington, DC Materials Safety
Christopher W. Jenks Administration, U.S.DOT Washington, DC
EDWARD R. HAMBERGER, President
Transportation Research Board and CEO, Association of American Railroads,
JOHN C. HORSLEY, Executive Director, American Association LeRoyof Gishi,
StateChief, Division
Highway of Transportation,
and Transportation Bureau Washington,
Officials, of Indian Affairs,
DC U.S. Department of the
Interior,
DAVID T. MATSUDA, Deputy Administrator, Maritime Administration, U.S.DOT Washington, DC
Edward R. Hamberger, President and CEO, Association of American Railroads, Washington, DC
VICTOR M. MENDEZ, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, U.S.DOT
John C. Horsley, Executive Director, American Association of State Highway and Transportation
WILLIAM W. MILLAR, President, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
Officials, Washington, DC
ROBERT J. PAPP (Adm., U.S. Coast Guard), Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC
Rose A. McMurry, Acting Deputy Administrator, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, U.S.DO
CYNTHIA L. QUARTERMAN, Administrator, Pipeline and Hazardous
Ronald Medford,Materials
Acting Safety
DeputyAdministration, U.S.DOTHighway Traffic Safety Administration,
Administrator, National
PETER M. ROGOFF, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, U.S.DOTU.S.DOT
DAVID L. STRICKLAND, Administrator, National Highway Traffic
Victor Safety Administration,
M. Mendez, Administrator,U.S.DOT
Federal Highway Administration, U.S.DOT
JOSEPH C. SZABO, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, U.S.DOT
William W. Millar, President, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, DC
POLLY TROTTENBERG, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Peter M. Policy,
Rogoff,U.S.DOT
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, U.S.DOT
ROBERT L. VAN ANTWERP (Lt. Gen., U.S. Army), Chief of Engineers
Joseph C. Szabo,and Commanding
Administrator, General,
Federal U.S. Administration,
Railroad Army Corps of U.S.DOT
Engineers,
Washington, DC Polly Trottenberg, Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, U.S.DOT
Robert L. Van Antwerp (Lt. Gen., U.S. Army), Chief of Engineers and Commanding General,
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
*Membership as of July 2010.
*Membership as of October 2009. *Membership as of October 2009.
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COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY SYNTHESIS PROGRAM
CTBSSP Synthesis 18
Older Commercial Drivers:
Do They Pose a Safety Risk?
A Synthesis of Safety Practice
Consultants
GENE BERGOFFEN
MaineWay Services, Inc.
with
JOHN F. BROCK
Windwalker Corporation
and
LOREN STAPLIN
TransAnalytics, LLC
S ubscriber C ategories
Motor Carriers · Public Transportation · Safety and Human Factors
Research Sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD
WASHINGTON, D.C.
2010
www.TRB.org
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COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY SYNTHESIS PROGRAM CTBSSP SYNTHESIS 18
Safety is a principal focus of government agencies and private-sector organiza- Project MC-18
tions concerned with transportation. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin- ISSN 1544-6808
istration (FMCSA) was established within the Department of Transportation ISBN: 978-0-309-14314-1
on January 1, 2000, pursuant to the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act of
Library of Congress Control Number 2010925482
1999. Formerly a part of the Federal Highway Administration, the FMCSA's
primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and
injuries. Administration activities contribute to ensuring safety in motor carrier © 2010 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
operations through strong enforcement of safety regulations, targeting high-risk
carriers and commercial motor vehicle drivers; improving safety information
systems and commercial motor vehicle technologies; strengthening commercial COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
motor vehicle equipment and operating standards; and increasing safety aware-
ness. To accomplish these activities, the Administration works with federal, state, Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for
and local enforcement agencies, the motor carrier industry, labor, safety interest obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copy-
groups, and others. In addition to safety, security-related issues are also receiving right to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein.
significant attention in light of the terrorist events of September 11, 2001. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce mate-
Administrators, commercial truck and bus carriers, government regula- rial in this publication for classroom and not-for-profit purposes. Permission is
tors, and researchers often face problems for which information already exists, given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB,
either in documented form or as undocumented experience and practice. This AASHTO, FAA, FHWA, FMCSA, FTA, or Transit Development Corporation
information may be fragmented, scattered, and underevaluated. As a conse-
endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those
quence, full knowledge of what has been learned about a problem may not be
reproducing the material in this document for educational and not-for-profit uses
brought to bear on its solution. Costly research findings may go unused, valu-
able experience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not be given to will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or repro-
recommended practices for solving or alleviating the problem. duced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP.
There is information available on nearly every subject of concern to commer-
cial truck and bus safety. Much of it derives from research or from the work of
practitioners faced with problems in their day-to-day work. To provide a system- NOTICE
atic means for assembling and evaluating such useful information and to make it
available to the commercial truck and bus industry, the Commercial Truck and The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Commercial Truck
Bus Safety Synthesis Program (CTBSSP) was established by the FMCSA to and Bus Safety Synthesis Program conducted by the Transportation Research
undertake a series of studies to search out and synthesize useful knowledge from Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Coun-
all available sources and to prepare documented reports on current practices in cil. Such approval reflects the Governing Board's judgment that the program
the subject areas of concern. Reports from this endeavor constitute the CTBSSP concerned is appropriate with respect to both the purposes and resources of the
Synthesis series, which collects and assembles the various forms of information National Research Council.
into single concise documents pertaining to specific commercial truck and bus
The members of the technical committee selected to monitor this project and
safety problems or sets of closely related problems
to review this report were chosen for recognized scholarly competence and with
The CTBSSP, administered by the Transportation Research Board, began
in early 2002 in support of the FMCSA's safety research programs. The pro- due consideration for the balance of disciplines appropriate to the project. The
gram initiates three to four synthesis studies annually that address concerns in opinions and conclusions expressed or implied are those of the research agency
the area of commercial truck and bus safety. A synthesis report is a document that performed the research, and, while they have been accepted as appropri-
that summarizes existing practice in a specific technical area based typically ate by the technical panel, they are not necessarily those of the Transportation
on a literature search and a survey of relevant organizations (e.g., state DOTs, Research Board, the National Research Council, or the Federal Motor Carrier
enforcement agencies, commercial truck and bus companies, or other organiza- Safety Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation.
tions appropriate for the specific topic). The primary users of the syntheses are Each report is reviewed and accepted for publication by the technical panel
practitioners who work on issues or problems using diverse approaches in their
according to procedures established and monitored by the Transportation
individual settings. The program is modeled after the successful synthesis pro-
Research Board Executive Committee and the Governing Board of the National
grams currently operated as part of the National Cooperative Highway Research
Program (NCHRP) and the Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP). Research Council.
This synthesis series reports on various practices, making recommendations The Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, and the
where appropriate. Each document is a compendium of the best knowledge Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (sponsor of the Commercial Truck
available on measures found to be successful in resolving specific problems. and Bus Safety Synthesis Program) do not endorse products or manufacturers.
To develop these syntheses in a comprehensive manner and to ensure inclu- Trade or manufacturers' names appear herein solely because they are considered
sion of significant knowledge, available information assembled from numerous essential to the clarity and completeness of the project reporting.
sources, including a large number of relevant organizations, is analyzed.
For each topic, the project objectives are (1) to locate and assemble docu-
mented information (2) to learn what practice has been used for solving or
alleviating problems; (3) to identify all ongoing research; (4) to learn what
problems remain largely unsolved; and (5) to organize, evaluate, and document
the useful information that is acquired. Each synthesis is an immediately useful
document that records practices that were acceptable within the limitations of
the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. Published reports of the
The CTBSSP is governed by a Program Oversight Panel consisting of indi-
viduals knowledgeable in the area of commercial truck and bus safety from a COMMERCIAL TRUCK AND BUS SAFETY SYNTHESIS PROGRAM
number of perspectives--commercial truck and bus carriers, key industry trade
associations, state regulatory agencies, safety organizations, academia, and are available from:
related federal agencies. Major responsibilities of the panel are to (1) provide
Transportation Research Board
general oversight of the CTBSSP and its procedures, (2) annually select syn-
thesis topics, (3) refine synthesis scopes, (4) select researchers to prepare each Business Office
synthesis, (5) review products, and (6) make publication recommendations. 500 Fifth Street, NW
Each year, potential synthesis topics are solicited through a broad indus- Washington, DC 20001
try-wide process. Based on the topics received, the Program Oversight Panel
selects new synthesis topics based on the level of funding provided by the and can be ordered through the Internet at:
FMCSA. In late 2002, the Program Oversight Panel selected two task-order http://www.national-academies.org/trb/bookstore
contractor teams through a competitive process to conduct syntheses for Fiscal
Years 2003 through 2005. Printed in the United States of America
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars
engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and
to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the
Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters.
Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy
of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in
the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising
the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed
at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of
engineers. Dr. Charles M. Vest is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the ser-
vices of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the
health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by
its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues
of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate
the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and
advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Acad-
emy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and
the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific
and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of
Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. Charles M. Vest are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National
Research Council.
The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The
mission of the Transportation Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and prog-
ress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary,
and multimodal. The Board's varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other
transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom
contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments,
federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other
organizations and individuals interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org
www.national-academies.org
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CTBBSP OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CRP STAFF FOR CTBSSP SYNTHESIS 18
CHRISTOPHER W. JENKS, Director, Cooperative Research
Programs
CHAIR CRAWFORD F. JENCKS, Deputy Director, Cooperative
NORM LITTLER Research Programs
American Bus Association NANDA SRINIVASAN, Senior Program Officer
EILEEN P. DELANEY, Director of Publications
MEMBERS
LAMONT BYRD CTBSSP SYNTHESIS STAFF
International Brotherhood of Teamsters STEPHEN R. GODWIN, Director for Studies and Special
B. SCOTT CLAFFEY Programs
Great West Casualty Company JON M. WILLIAMS, Program Director, IDEA and
CHRISTOPHER CREAN Synthesis Studies
Peter Pan Bus Lines, Inc. DONNA VLASAK, Senior Program Officer
ALESSANDRO "ALEX" GUARIENTO DON TIPPMAN, Editor
MV Transportation, Inc., Plano, TX DEMISHA WILLIAMS, Senior Program Assistant
STEPHEN A. KEPLER DEBBIE IRVIN, Program Associate
Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
BRENDA LANTZ
North Dakota State University
DEAN NEWELL
Maverick Transportation LLC
DAVID OSIECKI
American Trucking Associations, Alexandria, VA
E. JAN SKOUBY
Missouri DOT
CARI SULLIVAN
Two Men and a Truck International, Inc.
TOM WEAKLEY
OwnerOperator Independent Drivers Association Foundation
GREER WOODRUFF
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
CHRISTOPHER ZEILINGER
Community Transportation Association of America
FMCSA LIAISON
ALBERT ALVAREZ
MARTIN WALKER
FHWA LIAISON
Michael S. "Mike" Griffith
John C. Nicholas
APTA LIAISON
GREG HULL
AASHTO LIAISON
LEO PENNE
TRB LIAISON
CHARLES W. NIESSNER
RICHARD PAIN
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FOREWORD Administrators, commercial truck and bus carriers, government regulators, and researchers often face
problems for which information already exists, either in documented form or as undocumented experience
and practice. This information may be fragmented, scattered, and underevaluated. As a consequence, full
knowledge of what has been learned about a problem may not be brought to bear on its solution. Costly
research findings may go unused, valuable experience may be overlooked, and due consideration may not
be given to recommended practices for solving or alleviating the problem.
There is information available on nearly every subject of concern to commercial truck and bus safety.
Much of it derives from research or from the work of practitioners faced with problems in their day-to-day
jobs. To provide a systematic means for assembling and evaluating such useful information and to make
it available to the commercial truck and bus industry, the Commercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis
Program (CTBSSP) was established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to
undertake a series of studies to search out and synthesize useful knowledge from all available sources
and to prepare documented reports on current practices in the subject areas of concern. Reports from this
endeavor constitute the CTBSSP Synthesis series, which collects and assembles information into single
concise documents pertaining to specific commercial truck and bus safety problems.
The CTBSSP, administered by the Transportation Research Board, was authorized in late 2001 and
began in 2002 in support of the FMCSA's safety research programs. The program initiates several syn-
thesis studies annually that address issues in the area of commercial truck and bus safety. A synthesis
report is a document that summarizes existing practice in a specific technical area based typically on a
literature search and a survey of relevant organizations (e.g., state DOTs, enforcement agencies, com-
mercial truck and bus companies, or other organizations appropriate for the specific topic). The primary
users of the syntheses are practitioners who work on issues or problems using diverse approaches in their
individual settings.
This synthesis series reports on various practices; each document is a compendium of the best knowl-
edge available on measures found to be successful in resolving specific problems. To develop these syn-
theses in a comprehensive manner and to ensure inclusion of significant knowledge, available information
assembled from numerous sources is analyzed.
For each topic, the project objectives are (1) to locate and assemble documented information; (2) to learn
what practices have been used for solving or alleviating problems; (3) to identify relevant, ongoing research;
(4) to learn what problems remain largely unsolved; and (5) to organize, evaluate, and document the useful
information that is acquired. Each synthesis is an immediately useful document that records practices that
were acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation.
PREFACE This synthesis provides a knowledge base regarding age-related changes in the basic functional abilities
needed to drive safely that can assist industry and labor practitioners in promoting safer commercial
By Donna L. Vlasak
operations. Managers of bus and truck fleets, academic and trade association researchers, and federal and
Senior Program Officer state agency officials with responsibility for developing effective regulatory and incentive programs may
Transportation find this report useful.
Research Board The synthesis team conducted a literature review about changes in medical (functional) fitness to drive
that affect older drivers generally, and older commercial drivers, specifically. Although research data on older
drivers and older drivers in general was found to be broad, findings for older commercial drivers appeared to
be limited. One 1995 study proved useful to this synthesis study. As surveys with carriers and others in the
trucking industry regarding older drivers' information yielded a low response rate, in-person telephone inter-
views were conducted with six carriers to gather more detailed information from industry safety managers.
Gene Bergoffen, MaineWay Services, Inc.; John F. Brock, Windwalker Corporation; and Loren Sta-
plin, TransAnalytics, LLC, collected and synthesized the information and wrote the report. The Com-
mercial Truck and Bus Safety Synthesis Program Oversight Committee members are acknowledged on
the preceding page. This synthesis is an immediately useful document that records the practices that were
acceptable within the limitations of the knowledge available at the time of its preparation. As progress in
research and practice continues, new knowledge will be added to that now at hand.
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Contents
1 SUMMARY
3 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION
Background, 3
Objectives and Scope, 3
5 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction, 5
Medical Conditions and Older Driver Safety, 5
Medication Use and Safety Concerns Among Older Drivers, 8
Age-Related Functional Deficits That Predict Crash Risk, 10
Strategies to Maintain Safety with an Aging Driver Population, 17
21 CHAPTER THREE TRUCK CARRIER INDUSTRY
Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 21
Industry's View, 21
22 CHAPTER FOUR CONCLUSIONS
General Findings on Older Drivers, 22
General Findings on Older Commercial Drivers, 22
Summary, 22
Conclusions, 23
24 REFERENCES
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