A STUDY OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SAFETY ALLIANCES OUT-OF-SERVICE CRITERIA

This paper summarizes a two-phase project that reviewed the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance's out-of-service criteria for vehicles. The f irst phase examined relevant background information and conducted a qu estionnaire survey of CVSA inspectors and industry representatives. Th e second phase of the project involved extensive collection and evalua tion of accident data. The results of both phases show a high level of support, in terms of contribution to vehicle accidents, for four of t he vehicle criteria (regarding brakes, load securement, tires, and whe els and rims). There was some support for coupling devices, fuel syste ms, lighting devices, steering and suspension. The support for the rem aining vehicle criteria (exhaust systems, frames, van and open top tra iler bodies, and windshield wipers) was little to none. Further resear ch continuing the study of accident data is recommended to confirm the se findings. However, the data must be collected in a consistent and d etailed manner if accurate information on the relationship of accident s and vehicle criteria is to be established. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.