Unveiling the speeding behavior: Assessing the speeding risks and driver injury severities in single-heavy truck crashes

Abstract

Long-haul heavy trucks are vital to the national economy. Yet, they have been involved in an increasing number of severe crashes, particularly due to speeding, which increases crash risks and injury severity. This issue is notably severe in Pennsylvania, where large truck-involved fatalities in speeding-related crashes are on the rise.

This study aims to uncover the speeding behavior and its associated risks in heavy trucks by analyzing single-heavy truck speeding-related crashes over six years (2018–2023, inclusive), keeping non-speeding-related crashes as a reference.

Utilizing a mixed logit model with heterogeneity in means and variances, the study identified twenty-seven statistically significant variables in both scenarios, with five variables common to both models. The estimated model results unveiled risk factors encompassing spatial, temporal, environmental, vehicular, crash, roadway, and driver characteristics. The common factors include overturning crashes, negotiating curved segments, middle-aged drivers (30–49 years old), unbelted truck drivers, and road segments with a 70 mi/hr speed limit. Speeding-related single-heavy truck crashes are much more likely to result in severe or minor injuries than non-speeding crashes, highlighting the amplified risks of excessive speed.

The findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive countermeasures to reduce speeding-related crashes. To mitigate these risks, the study highlights the importance of comprehensive countermeasures with the strategies of installing roadside barriers for heavy trucks, implementing chevron signs with flashing lights along curved segments, regular roadside inspection, and vehicle maintenance policy, re-emphasizing the speed limiter policy, and providing targeted training for truck drivers to foster safer driving behaviors. These strategies, aligned with the National Road Safety Strategy, have the potential to significantly enhance safety for heavy trucks and the broader driving community.