Spatial and temporal differences in Midwestern crashes relative to national data: Public policy implications

The mission of the University Transportation Centers (UTC) program is to advance U.S. technology and expertise in the many disciplines comprising transportation through the mechanisms of education, research, and technology transfer at university-based centers of excellence. The Midwest Transportation Consortium (MTC) is a Tier The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the information presented herein. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the sponsors. The sponsors assume no liability for the contents or use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The sponsors do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers' names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document. The goal of this study was to explore the effects of drivers' personal characteristics and the in-car and out-car conditions associated with a car crashes on the types of crashes that drivers are most likely to be involved in. It was hypothesized that personal and environmental characteristics surrounding a car crash will affect the types of crashes the drivers get involved in. Also, it was hypothesized that some differences in crash type patterns exist among the four Midwestern states (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska) and between the Midwest and the country as a whole. The results of this study confirmed that these differences do exist. Another goal of this study was to analyze the effect of different types of driver distractions on the crash types drivers get involved in. The results of this analysis showed that different sources of distraction lead to different types of crashes. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement angular crashes—crash types—driver distraction—Midwestern crashes— rear-end crashes—single-vehicle crashes No restrictions.