Correlation of Driver Gender with Injury Severity in Large Truck Crashes in Missouri

Abstract

Large trucks are vital for shipping freight in the United States but are also a dangerous mode of transportation. From 2002 to 2012, 91,145 crashes involving large trucks were recorded in Missouri, resulting in 1,156 fatalities and 18,457 injuries. Many factors contribute to the severity of a large truck crash; these factors and their effects on severity may vary as a function of gender. Missouri crash data from 2002 to 2012 were analyzed to identify circumstances that increased the probability of injury severity outcomes in the event of a large truck crash. Chi-square automatic interaction detector decision tree models were developed for each gender to understand predictor importance better and to uncover interactions between contributing factors. Results suggest that the major correlations with levels of injury severity are following too closely, physical impairment, and improper passing for female Missouri drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and driving too fast for conditions, failing to yield, and physical impairment for male Missouri CDL drivers. Results suggest that environmental factors are not significant predictors of severity outcome for female CDL drivers; however, road and lighting conditions play a tertiary role for male CDL drivers. Recommendations based on study results include encouraging truck driver training programs to focus educational efforts on gender-specific behaviors that affect crash injury severity to enhance road safety.