FMCSA updates Crash Preventability Program with new accident types

FMCSA proposed modifications to some of the 16 existing crash types and the addition of four new types to enhance preventive measures.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) continues to update its Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP), a key initiative launched in 2020 that allows carriers and drivers to report accidents to determine if they were preventable. The goal of this program is to remove non-preventable crashes from the percentile ranking in the BASIC (Crash Indicator, Behavior Analysis, and Safety Improvement Category) in the CSA Safety Measurement System.

In 2023, FMCSA proposed modifications to some of the 16 existing crash types and the addition of four new types to enhance preventive measures. In response, the agency received broad support, which resulted in adjustments to the initially proposed list of eligible crash types.

New proposed crash types by FMCSA

The agency proposed including four new types of crashes in the CPDP, which are:

Side-impact crash involving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) by a motorist traveling in the same direction.
Crash involving a CMV struck by another motorist entering the roadway from a private drive or parking lot.
Crash involving a CMV hit due to the loss of control by another driver. The Police Accident Report (PAR) must specifically indicate the loss of control.
Crash where video footage documenting the sequence of events is available, particularly relevant for carriers using dash cams.

FMCSA clarified that the new crash types will not be retroactive, meaning that crashes that occurred before the start date of the updated CPDP will not be reviewed under the new criteria. The agency justified this decision, ensuring that accidents occurring within the same period will be analyzed with a consistent set of criteria.

Comments on implementing the new crash types

FMCSA’s changes were supported by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), as they would improve the safety ratings for drivers and carriers by considering previously negatively impacting crashes as non-preventable. However, OOIDA requested that the responsibility for reviewing these accidents lie with the agency, not with shippers. This would allow carriers to maintain safety and experience without having to wait long periods for non-preventable accidents to be removed from their records.

FMCSA will begin accepting requests for data reviews (RDR) for the new crash types starting December 1, 2024.