Commercial Vehicle Onboard Video Systems

Abstract: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated many highway accidents where onboard video systems recorded critical crash-related information. This safety report discusses two recent crashes where continuous video systems were installed on commercial vehicles. In a 2012 school bus crash in Port St. Lucie, Florida, the video recording system captured all three phases of the crash, including precrash driver and passenger behaviors and vehicle motion; vehicle and occupant motion during the crash; and postcrash events, such as passenger evacuation, short-term injury outcomes, and emergency response. In a 2011 motorcoach crash in Kearney, Nebraska, the video recording system captured critical precrash information but had certain limitations that negated the potential benefits of crash and postcrash event data. This report summarizes the analysis of the onboard video systems from these two crashes in particular. Further, to advance biomechanical and pediatric trauma-based research, it presents the video analysis and subsequent extensive injury documentation from the Port St. Lucie investigation. The NTSB makes recommendations to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; to the American Bus Association, United Motorcoach Association, American Trucking Associations, American Public Transportation Association, National Association for Pupil Transportation, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, and National School Transportation Association; and to 15 manufacturers of onboard video systems.

Related Safety Alert (SA-043)