"TRB Special Report 292 ... recommends the creation of an independent scientific advisory committee (SAC). The SAC would be charged with development of a transparent process for identifying and prioritizing research needs and opportunities in highway safety, with emphasis on infrastructure and operations, and using the process developed to recommend a national research agenda focused on highway infrastructure and operations safety. The report also explores opportunities to improve the quality of highway safety research." -- publisher's website.

Traffic crashes kill thousands of Americans every year -- in 2005, it was the the leading cause of death among young Americans. To try to improve highway safety, Congress authorized a grant program overseen by the Nat. Hwy. Traffic Safety Admin. (NHTSA). In 2003, it was recommended that NHTSA improve the consistency of its mgmt. reviews, a key aspect of NHTSA¿s oversight. In response to a legislative mandate, this report assessed: (1) how states have used grant funding to address safety goals; (2) NHTSA¿s progress in improving consistency in its mgmt. reviews; (3) the usefulness of its mgmt. review recommendations; and (4) approaches to further improve safety. Includes recommendations. Charts and tables.

There are approximately 4,000 fatalities in crashes involving trucks and buses in the United States each year. Though estimates are wide-ranging, possibly 10 to 20 percent of these crashes might have involved fatigued drivers. The stresses associated with their particular jobs (irregular schedules, etc.) and the lifestyle that many truck and bus drivers lead, puts them at substantial risk for insufficient sleep and for developing short- and long-term health problems. Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Fatigue, Long-Term Health and Highway Safety assesses the state of knowledge about the relationship of such factors as hours of driving, hours on duty, and periods of rest to the fatigue experienced by truck and bus drivers while driving and the implications for the safe operation of their vehicles. This report evaluates the relationship of these factors to drivers' health over the longer term, and identifies improvements in data and research methods that can lead to better understanding in both areas.