Department of Transportation
Press Releases
DOT to Address Cargo Tank Rollovers—01/15/2008
PHMSA and the Federal Motor Carrier
Safety Administration (FMCSA) are working
together to develop plans to address
cargo tank rollovers.
A recently completed “Cargo Tank Roll
Stability Study” contracted by FMCSA
with Battelle evaluated four complementary
approaches to reducing the number
of cargo tank truck rollovers: redesigning
the vehicle, redesigning the highways,
deploying electronic stability aids, and
improving the training of drivers.
As a possible outcome of the Battelle
DOT to Address Cargo Tank Rollovers
study, efforts are underway to establish
a tank truck safety task force with involvement
from PHMSA, FMCSA, the
National Tank Truck Carriers Association
and other key stakeholders. This
group would consider a multifaceted
approach to reducing rollovers through
enhanced tank truck designs, increased
driver awareness, use of electronic stability
control systems, and other measures
that can be effective to address the
challenge.
The average annual number of cargo
tank rollovers nationwide is 1,265. The
portion of rollovers that occur on freeways
is approximately 15 to 20 percent,
with cargo tank rollovers accounting for
31 percent of the heavy vehicle rollover
fatal crashes. Not all of these rollovers
involve hazardous materials.
Both PHMSA and the FMCSA are
currently analyzing studies that show the
benefits of electronic stability control
(ESC) systems employed on vehicles to
prevent rollovers. ESC systems, in essence,
apply the brakes when a vehicle is
in danger of rolling over due to excessive
speed or as a result of a sudden turning,
braking, over compensating or other
driver errors.
PHMSA and the FMCSA also are focusing
on driver training and raising
driver awareness of the potential hazards
and frequency of rollover incidents
through a broad outreach and media
campaign.
Department of Transportation. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. DOT to Address Cargo Tank Rollovers. PHMSA Focus, Fall/Winter 2007, 6.
