TMA Truck Safety

This study evaluates the effectiveness of in-vehicle safety countermeasures in reducing injury risk for TMA (Truck-Mounted Attenuator) truck occupants during collisions. With increasing incidents involving TMAs in work zones, understanding the protective impact of advanced safety features has become crucial. A review of historical TMA crash reports revealed that rear-end collisions are the primary issue, with whiplash injuries being the most common type of injury among drivers. Current in-vehicle safety countermeasures were examined, including active headrests, reactive seatbacks, and anti-whiplash systems, which were tested across six simulated collision scenarios incorporating varying vehicle weights, speeds, and impact angles. Using a biomechanical simulation model and telematic data, results indicated that active headrests, particularly with 40 mm travel level, consistently reduced injury criteria values (NIC, Nij, Nkm), effectively lowering head and neck injury risks in both straight and angled collisions. In contrast, the reactive seatback and anti-whiplash systems demonstrated mixed efficacy, performing well in low-impact conditions but poorly in high-impact scenarios. Limited high-impact telematic data, particularly with 80,000-pound vehicles, highlight the need for further validation for high-impact collision scenarios. Findings suggest that integrating advanced head restraint systems could significantly enhance TMA truck driver safety.

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Report number: cmr 25-004
Published: March 2025

Project number: TR202316

Authors: Praveen Edara, Zhu Qing, Carlos Sun, Henry Brown, Trent Guess, and Johnathan Stokes 

Performing organization: University of Missouri-Columbia