Looking back in the rearview: Insights into Queensland’s rear-end crashes

Abstract

Objective Rear-end crashes cost the most out of any crash type to the Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme of Queensland. Rear-end crashes are also one of the most common types of crashes, peaking as the most common type of crash in Queensland in 2019. This study investigated the environmental, driver, and vehicle characteristics associated with rear-end collisions in Queensland, Australia. Methods A totle of 367,230 crashes in the Queensland crash database between 2001 and 2021 were used to identify crash trends in Queensland, particularly related to rear-end crashes. For crashes between 2015 and 2021, additional information was gathered and allowed further analysis of factors contributing to rear-end crashes using the quasi-induced exposure method. Two binary classification tree models were used. Model 1 investigated the environmental characteristics that predicted a crash being a rear-end or not. Model 2 investigated the controller and vehicle characteristics that predict a rear-end crash-involved vehicle to be either the striking (at-fault) or struck (not-at-fault) vehicle. Results Model 1 indicated that rear-end crashes were overrepresented in urban areas and major cities and where speed limits exceeded 50 km/h. Model 2 indicated that occupants of struck vehicles (not at-fault) were more likely to be severely injured than the striking (at-fault) vehicles in rear-end crashes. License type and vehicle type also influenced the frequency and severity of rear-end crashes. Conclusion Rear-end crashes can be unjust in that the not-at-fault party is typically more severely injured. Results from the current study suggest that keeping speed limits no higher than 50 km/h could help reduce the severity of rear-end crashes. Increased enforcement of safe following distances could also assist in preventing road trauma as a result of rear-end crashes.