A Human Error Analysis of U.S. Fatal Highway Crashes 1990–2004

Abstract

For decades, motor vehicle crashes have consistently been one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. Historically, few attempts to address this problem have focused on human error. Even fewer have incorporated an analysis of human error when assessing possible preventative measures. The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) is an established framework for investigating and analyzing human error associated with accidents in other transportation modes such as aviation and rail. This study seeks to extend the application of HFACS to driver error in fatal motor vehicle crashes. Preliminary HFACS results suggest skill-based errors and violations are prevalent in fatal motor vehicle crashes. Relationships between driver error, lighting conditions, and States were also observed. Further investigations will be aimed at identifying the fundamental areas of human error relative to real world driving to identify data-driven interventions.