research >>Backing crashes

in progress

Backing crashes are of special interest because they tend to be under-reported, for a number of reasons, but mainly because many of them occur in locations that are not covered by the national crash reporting systems. Even so, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there are about 500,000 backing crashes each year, causing more than 50,000 injuries and an estimated 185 deaths, though that latter number is suspected of being low.

Caltrans (the California Department of Transportation) has asked the TSC to help develop tools to measure safety risks and make improvements in the operation of its large fleet of 14,000 vehicles. Backing crashes are a key element, comprising nearly one-third of all accidents deemed preventable in a recent year.