EXPLORING HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE (HGV) CRASHES: A STUDY ON CRASH SEVERITY CHARACTERISTICS OF RIGID LORRIES

Abstract

Rigid lorries is the most common HGV in Malaysia due to practicality and efficiency. However, they are overrepresented in fatal road crashes, which raises concerns about their safety. This study aims to identify and analyse the crash severity characteristics of rigid lorries using three years (2018-2020) of crash data. Utilizing data from the Malaysia Highway Road Accident Analysis & Database System (MHROADS), 306 crashes involving rigid lorries were analysed. A 2x2 contingency table analysis was applied by calculating the odds ratios to quantify the associations between 22 crash characteristics and severity. Findings revealed that rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of crash, while single-vehicle crashes significantly increased the likelihood of fatality despite their lower occurrence. Additionally, drivers with more than five years of experience were found to be involved in most fatal crashes. Road characteristics, such as road conditions and surface quality, were also significant factors influencing crash outcomes. Crashes on slope roads and poor surface conditions were found increasing the odds of fatalities compared to flat and smooth surface conditions. These results emphasize the need for targeted interventions, including improving road infrastructure, stricter enforcement and enhancing driver training, to reduce the severity and frequency of rigid lorry crashes in Malaysia.