Document ID: FMCSA-2014-0177-0147
Agency: fmcsa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Crash Preventability Determination Program
Posted Date: 2019-08-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 150 (Monday, August 5, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38087-38091]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16693]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

[Docket No. FMCSA-2014-0177]

Crash Preventability Determination Program

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: On July 27, 2017, FMCSA announced a crash preventability 
demonstration program to evaluate the preventability of eight 
categories of crashes through submissions of Requests for Data Review 
to its national data correction system known as DataQs. After 18 months 
of operating the program, FMCSA has decided to operate a crash 
preventability determination program, using a streamlined process, and 
proposes to modify the Safety Measurement System to remove crashes 
found to be not preventable from the prioritization algorithm and 
noting the not preventable determinations in the Pre-Employment 
Screening Program. In addition, FMCSA proposes to consolidate two of 
the original crash types in the demonstration program and start 
reviewing additional crash types to determine if crashes in the 
additional categories are predominantly not preventable. FMCSA seeks 
comments on its implementation of these changes and on the new crash 
types.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 4, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments bearing the Federal Docket 
Management System (FDMS) Docket ID FMCSA-2014-0177 using any of the 
following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, Washington, DC 0590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
    Instructions: Each submission must include the Agency name and the 
docket number for this notice. Note that DOT posts all comments 
received without change to www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information included in a comment. Please see the Privacy Act heading 
below.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to www.regulations.gov at any time or visit Room W12-140 
on the ground level of the West Building, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The on-line Federal document management system 
is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. If you want 
acknowledgment that we received your comments, please include a self-
addressed, stamped envelope or postcard or print the acknowledgement 
page that appears after submitting comments on-line.
    Privacy Act: In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(c), DOT solicits 
comments from the public to better inform its processes. DOT posts 
these comments, without edit, including any personal information the 
commenter provides, to www.regulations.gov, as described in the system 
of records notice (DOT/ALL-14 FDMS), which can be reviewed at 
www.dot.gov/privacy.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Catterson Oh, Compliance Division, 
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 
Washington, DC 20590, Telephone 202-366-6160 or by email: 
Catterson.Oh@dot.gov. If you have questions regarding viewing or 
submitting material to the docket, contact Docket Services, telephone 
(202) 366-9826.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Public Participation and Request for Comments

    FMCSA encourages you to participate by submitting comments and 
related materials.

Submitting Comments

    If you submit a comment, please include the docket number for this 
notice FMCSA-2014-0177, indicate the specific section of this document 
to which each comment applies, and provide a reason for each suggestion 
or recommendation. You may submit your comments and material online or 
by fax, mail, or hand delivery, but please use only one of these means. 
FMCSA recommends that you include your name and a mailing address, an 
email address, or a phone number in the body of your document so the 
Agency can contact you if it has questions regarding your submission.
    To submit your comment online, go to http://www.regulations.gov and 
put the docket number, ``FMCSA-2014-0177'' in the ``Keyword'' box, and 
click ``Search.'' When the new screen appears, click on ``Comment 
Now!'' button and type your comment into the text box in the following 
screen. Choose whether you are submitting your comment as an individual 
or on behalf of a third party and then submit. If you submit your 
comments by mail or hand delivery, submit them in an unbound format, no 
larger than 8\1/2\ by 11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic 
filing. If you submit comments by mail and would like to know that they 
reached the facility, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed postcard 
or envelope.
    FMCSA will consider all comments and material received during the 
comment period and may change this notice based on your comments.

II. Background

History

    The Agency's Crash Indicator Behavior Analysis Safety Improvement 
Category (BASIC) in FMCSA's Safety Measurement System (SMS) includes 
all crashes, without regard to the preventability of the crash. On 
January 23, 2015, FMCSA announced the results of the Agency's study on 
the feasibility of using a motor carrier's role in crashes in the 
assessment of the company's safety (80 FR 3719). In response to the 
January 2015 Federal Register notice,

[[Page 38088]]

the American Trucking Associations (ATA) provided a list of certain 
types of crashes it considered not preventable and suggested that FMCSA 
establish a process by which documents could be submitted on these 
crashes and they could be removed from the motor carriers' records.
    In a Federal Register notice dated July 12, 2016, FMCSA proposed a 
demonstration program to determine the efficacy of preventability 
determinations on certain types of crashes that are generally less 
complex (81 FR 45210). The Agency proposed to accept Requests for Data 
Review (RDRs) to evaluate the preventability of certain categories of 
crashes through its national data correction system known as DataQs. It 
proposed that a crash challenged through an RDR would be found not 
preventable when evidence submitted with the RDR established that the 
crash could not have been averted by an act, or failure to act, by the 
motor carrier or the driver.
    On July 27, 2017, FMCSA published a subsequent Federal Register 
notice announcing the start of the demonstration program to test eight 
specific crash types and explaining the details of the program (82 FR 
35045). On February 7, 2018, FMCSA published a Federal Register notice 
to clarify how crash types were being defined and to provide other 
information to help submitters (83 FR 5506).

First Set of Crash Types

    To date, FMCSA has reviewed RDRs submitted under one of the 
following eight crash types:
    1. When the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) was struck by a motorist 
driving under the influence (or related offense);
    2. When the CMV was struck by a motorist driving the wrong 
direction;
    3. When the CMV was struck in the rear;
    4. When the CMV was struck while it was legally stopped or parked, 
including when the vehicle was unattended;
    5. When the CMV struck an individual committing or attempting to 
commit suicide by stepping or driving in front of the CMV;
    6. When the CMV sustained disabling damage after striking an animal 
in the roadway;
    7. When the crash was the result of an infrastructure failure, 
falling trees, rocks, or other debris; or
    8. When the CMV was struck by cargo or equipment from another 
vehicle.
Statistics
    Between August 1, 2017 and May 31, 2019, 12,249 RDRs were submitted 
to FMCSA. Approximately 56 percent of the submitted RDRs were eligible, 
meaning they were one of the eight crash types. After reviewing the 
eligible crashes, approximately 93 percent were found to have been not 
preventable.
    FMCSA maintains statistics on the program on its website at 
www.fmcsa.dot.gov/crash-preventability-demonstration-program. As of May 
31, 2019, information from the program is as follows:

                       Table 1--Crash Preventability Program Determinations by Crash Type
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                  Crash type                      Total RDRs     Not preventable    Preventable      Undecided
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. When the commercial motor vehicle (CMV) was             417               386              12              19
 struck by a motorist driving under the
 influence (or related offense)...............
2. When the CMV was struck by a motorist                   365               334               6              25
 driving the wrong direction..................
3. When the CMV was struck in the rear........           3,927             3,675              49             203
4. When the CMV was struck while legally                   444               413               8              23
 stopped or parked, including when the vehicle
 was unattended...............................
5. When the CMV was struck by an individual                 17                16               0               1
 committing or attempting to commit suicide by
 stepping or driving in front of the CMV......
6. When the CMV sustained disabling damage                 218               206               2              10
 after striking an animal in the roadway......
7. When the crash was a result of an                        82                79               2               1
 infrastructure failure, falling trees, rocks,
 or other debris..............................
8. When the CMV was struck by cargo or                     149               138               4               7
 equipment from another vehicle...............
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................           5,619             5,247              83             289
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    As of May 31, 2019, 3,558 unique carriers had submitted RDRs. Of 
these, 1,750 carriers submitted 1 RDR, 1,618 carriers submitted between 
2 and 9 RDRs, and 190 carriers submitted 10 or more RDRs. The highest 
number of RDRs submitted by 1 carrier was 254 RDRs.
    For the majority of crashes that were determined to be preventable, 
the driver was operating with an out of service (OOS) condition under 
the North American Standard OOS Criteria, including that the driver was 
not properly licensed on the day of the crash. The Agency was clear in 
its July 2017 Federal Register notice that in these circumstances, 
crashes would be found to be preventable.
    The undecided determinations were largely due to the submitter's 
failure to provide, after FMCSA's request, documentation confirming the 
validity of the driver's commercial driver's license (CDL) or medical 
certification on the date of the crash, or would found to be undecided 
because the documentation provided contained conflicting information 
about the submitter's actions in the crash.

Review Processes

    FMCSA has used contract resources to complete two stages of review 
within the DataQs system. In stage 1, the reviewer collects all 
documents related to the crash from the submitter and FMCSA systems 
including the Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) crash 
report, the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS) 
driver history record, any post-crash inspection report, the Driver 
Information Resource, any recent enforcement information for the motor 
carrier, and any media reports about the crash.
    If the CDLIS record has been updated since the date of the crash, 
the reviewer requests documentation of the CDL or medical certificate 
on the date of the crash. In the cases of fatal crashes, the reviewer 
requests the CMV driver's post-crash drug and alcohol test results.
    In stage 2, an experienced crash report reviewer evaluates all of 
the documents from the submitter and stage 1. Based on

[[Page 38089]]

the evidence reviewed, the stage 2 reviewer makes a recommendation to 
FMCSA as to whether the submitter demonstrated, through compelling 
evidence, that the crash was not preventable.
    An FMCSA employee reviews the evidence collected and considered by 
the stage 2 reviewer and the recommendation and makes the 
determination. If FMCSA agrees with the recommendation of not 
preventable, the crash is posted for public input on the DataQs system 
for 30 days. Any new documents or data will be reviewed and considered 
before FMCSA makes a final determination. At this time, the DataQs 
public input functionality has been used only two times, to provide 
additional information from the submitter and to make a general comment 
about not preventable crashes that was not crash specific.
    In addition, as announced in the Agency's February 2018 Federal 
Register notice, the Agency recognized that some parties involved in 
the crash might not be able to provide input within 30 days. The Agency 
is maintaining a list of not preventable final determinations on its 
website at https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/crash-preventability-demonstration-program. This list is updated monthly. If at any time a 
party has information and documentation to counter a determination, 
FMCSA will accept that information at crash.preventability@dot.gov and 
may change the determination. To date, no emails have been received 
with information contrary to a determination.
    Final determinations (i.e., not preventable, preventable, 
undecided) made through this demonstration program are noted on the 
Agency's public SMS website within 60 days. No crashes are removed from 
the SMS Crash Indicator BASIC. However, a logged-in motor carrier 
viewing its own data in SMS sees an alternative percentile and measure 
with the crashes with not preventable determinations removed. The Crash 
Indicator BASIC percentiles have never been publicly available and 
remain available only to motor carriers who log in to view their own 
data, as well as to FMCSA and law enforcement users.

Submitted Documents

    FMCSA has not required submitters to provide any specific 
documentation. The burden is on the submitter to show, by compelling 
evidence, that the crash was not preventable. FMCSA estimates that 99 
percent of submitters of eligible crashes provided Police Accident 
Reports (PARs). In the limited situations where a PAR was not submitted 
and the crash was found to be eligible, another official law 
enforcement-issued document with sufficient information was provided, 
such as a State-issued driver information exchange report with 
sufficient details of the crash.
    FMCSA notes that other evidence such as photos and videos 
significantly improved the Agency's ability to determine: (1) If the 
crash met one of the eligible crash types or not; and, if eligible, (2) 
preventability. Internal company documents and insurance reports were 
provided by some submitters but, when reviewed on their own, did not 
generally provide compelling evidence.

Effectiveness Analysis

    FMCSA conducted a preliminary analysis of the 2-year demonstration 
program. A copy of the Agency's analysis using 18 months of safety data 
is included in the docket for this notice. This analysis quantified the 
program's impacts in terms of: (1) Number of carriers impacted; (2) 
size of SMS percentile changes; and (3) future crash rate of identified 
carriers like is calculated in the Agency's SMS effectiveness analysis.
    In summary, the carriers that have Not Preventable crashes removed 
through the demonstration program see a reduction in their Crash 
Indicator BASIC percentiles. The analysis team found a negligible 
impact on SMS effectiveness after removing Not Preventable crashes. 
Regardless of whether Not Preventable crashes are removed, carriers 
identified in SMS, when considering all BASICs, have a crash rate 97% 
higher than those not identified. The lack of an impact is mainly a 
result of the small number of carriers affected by the removal of Not 
Preventable crashes. Only 169 and 208 carriers are expected to gain and 
lose alert in the Crash Indicator BASIC, respectively, which is a small 
fraction (2%) of the 8,634 carriers identified in the Crash Indicator 
BASIC.
    Small carriers that have Not Preventable crashes removed through 
the demonstration program have the largest reductions in their Crash 
Indicator BASIC percentiles, mainly by dropping below the data 
sufficiency threshold. However, most of the small carrier population, 
did not participate. To improve representation, small carriers could be 
encouraged participate in the Agency's future program.
Implementation Proposal

Changes to Eligible Crash Types

    FMCSA proposes two changes to the original eight crash types. 
First, FMCSA would combine the crash type involving infrastructure 
failures and debris with the crash type for CMVs struck by cargo and 
equipment. The distinction between these two crash types did not result 
in different determinations and, in some cases, required submitters to 
resubmit their RDRs under the other crash type. In addition, FMCSA is 
changing the ``Motorist Under the Influence'' crash type to 
``Individual Under the Influence'' to include pedestrians and 
bicyclists. As a result, the revised crash types are:
    1. Struck in rear--Crashes would qualify when the striking vehicle 
was directly behind the submitter's vehicle prior to the crash and 
strikes the CMV on the back plane. This crash type does not include 
side swipes or when the point of impact was on the side toward the rear 
of the truck/trailer.
    2. Legally stopped or parked--Crashes would qualify if the CMV was 
stopped at a light, stop sign or other traffic control device, stopped 
for railroad crossings or school buses, or was parked. This crash type 
does not include crashes that occurred when the CMV was stopped in 
traffic.
    3. Suicides or Suicide Attempts--Crashes would qualify if the 
submitter provided evidence that the CMV struck an individual 
committing or attempting to commit suicide. This crash type does not 
include action where a vehicle or pedestrian enters the CMV's path with 
no documented reason.
    4. Wrong Direction--Crashes would qualify only if the CMV was 
struck after the other vehicle fully crossed the center line or median, 
or the other driver was driving in the wrong direction (e.g., driving 
southbound in the northbound lanes of an interstate or opposite on a 
one-way road). To qualify for this crash type the other vehicle was 
operating in the opposing direction before the crash. This crash type 
does not include when the vehicle partially crosses the center line or 
when the involved vehicles were traveling in the same direction. This 
crash type also does not include when the CMV crossed into the other 
lane.
    5. Animal Strikes--Crashes would qualify only if the CMV struck the 
animal. This would not include crashes where the CMV crashed avoiding 
the animal.
    6. Individuals Under the Influence--This crash type would require 
evidence that the CMV was struck by an individual who was operating 
``under

[[Page 38090]]

the influence'' (or related violation such as operating while 
intoxicated), according to the legal standard of the jurisdiction in 
which the crash occurred, to include either alcohol or drug test 
results, an arrest, a citation/violation, or a refusal.
    7. Infrastructure failure or struck by cargo, equipment or debris--
This crash type would be changed to include any cargo and equipment, 
not just fallen cargo and equipment. This would include crashes when 
the cargo or equipment on a vehicle shifts or extends into the path of 
travel. This crash type would not include when the CMV was struck by 
another vehicle that was not being transported as cargo.
    In addition, FMCSA proposes to test the following additional crash 
types. These crashes were frequently submitted during the demonstration 
program, but did not qualify for one of the original crash types. 
However, the PARs provided sufficient information to reach a 
preventability determination.
    8. When the CMV is struck on the side in the rear--These crashes 
would include when the CMV is struck on the side at the rear of the CMV 
when the other driver was in another lane before the crash and strikes 
the CMV at the side. For example, this would include when the PAR 
indicates that the CMV was struck at the 5:00 or 7:00 point of impact;
    9. When the CMV is struck by a vehicle that did not stop or slow in 
traffic--These crashes are when the CMV is stopped in a traffic lane 
due to traffic. This would include when the CMV is struck on the side;
    10. When the CMV is struck by a vehicle that failed to stop at a 
traffic control device (e.g., stop sign, red light or yield);
    11. When the CMV is struck by a vehicle that was making a U-turn or 
illegal turn;
    12. When the CMV is struck by a driver who experiences a medical 
issue which causes the crash;
    13. When the CMV is struck by a driver who admits falling asleep or 
admits distracted driving (e.g., cellphone, GPS, passengers, other);
    14. When the crash involved an individual ``under the influence'' 
(or related violation such as operating while intoxicated), according 
to the legal standard of the jurisdiction in which the crash occurred, 
even if the CMV was struck by another vehicle involved in the crash and 
not by the individual under the influence. The standards for test 
results, arrest or a citation would continue to apply; or
    15. When the crash involved a driver operating in the wrong 
direction, even if the CMV was struck by another vehicle involved in 
the crash and not by the driver operating in the wrong direction. The 
standard for the other wrong direction vehicle to be completely 
operating in the wrong lane (e.g., completely across the center line or 
over a median) or the other driver was driving in the wrong direction 
(e.g., driving southbound in the northbound lanes of an interstate or 
opposite on a one-way road.) to qualify for this crash type.
    FMCSA expects to analyze these additional crash types for 24 months 
but may announce changes earlier if: (1) Certain crash types cannot be 
consistently reviewed; (2) these crash types result largely in 
preventable or undecided determinations; or (3) there is sufficient 
information to make recommendations for future implementation.

SMS and PSP Changes

    Effective for crashes on or after August 1, 2019, for any of the 15 
types noted above, FMCSA would continue to display the crashes in SMS 
with notations of not preventable, preventable or undecided but would 
remove crashes with not preventable determinations from the SMS Crash 
Indicator BASIC calculation. FMCSA will also note the not preventable 
determinations in PSP. FMCSA proposes that preventable determinations 
would not be noted in PSP because the driver may not be aware when the 
motor carrier submits a crash that results in a preventable 
determination. The Agency is specifically interested in receiving 
comments on this issue.
    As crashes in SMS are only displayed for 2 years, notations in SMS 
for crashes reviewed during the demonstration program will remain for 2 
years from the date of the crash. Crashes reviewed during the 
demonstration program will not be removed from calculation of the SMS 
Crash Indicator BASIC but motor carriers will still have access to the 
alternative measures and percentiles.
    The Agency has an interest in maintaining transparent and accurate 
safety performance data. The Agency also believes that removing not 
preventable crashes from the SMS may provide additional safety 
incentives to carriers that are not reflected in the effectiveness 
study, but requests comments on this issue.
    The proposed changes to SMS would go into effect only after 
comments to this notice are fully reviewed and any needed changes 
addressed. In addition, FMCSA needs to implement information technology 
system changes, specifically in the DataQs system, to sustain longer 
term operations and reduce costs and improve efficiencies.
    As a result, the changes proposed in this notice would not go into 
effect until these steps, and other needed implementation actions, are 
completed and the Agency publishes a follow up Federal Register notice.

Impact of SMS Changes

    Once FMCSA begins removing crashes from the Crash Indicator BASIC, 
and because SMS is a relative system, the calculation may increase the 
Crash Indicator BASIC percentiles of other carriers. As a result, a 
motor carrier that does not have any additional crashes may see its 
Crash Indicator BASIC percentile increase because its peers submitted 
RDRs and crashes were found to be not preventable and were removed from 
the calculations.
    Although removing not preventable crashes from the calculation of 
the Crash Indicator BASIC may identify a different set of carriers for 
intervention, the Crash Indicator BASIC percentiles have never been 
publicly available and will remain available only to motor carriers who 
log in to view their own data, as well as to FMCSA and law enforcement 
users. This change would not change any carrier's safety fitness rating 
or ability to operate, nor would it establish any obligations or impose 
legal requirements on any motor carrier. This change also would not 
change how the Agency makes enforcement decisions.

End of Demonstration Program and Start of New Program

    FMCSA proposes to continue accepting crashes occurring on or after 
June 1, 2017, and through July 31, 2019, until September 30, 2019. This 
will allow RDRs for crashes occurring in July 2019 to be submitted, 
reviewed and preventability determinations noted in SMS.
    FMCSA is preparing to be able to accept the 15 crash types noted 
above in DataQs on or about October 1, 2019. Submitters will be able to 
submit crashes occurring on or after August 1, 2019, for all 15 crash 
types. As a result, there is no gap in time for submissions of RDRs.

Public Input Changes

    As previously noted, FMCSA has not received public input on any of 
the crashes. As a result, FMCSA proposes to cease the 30-day public 
input period and cease the practice of publishing preliminary not 
preventable determinations. This will allow RDRs to be closed with not 
preventable determinations without the 30-day

[[Page 38091]]

delay and will reduce resources to take additional action on the RDR. 
In addition, FMCSA proposes to stop publishing a list of not 
preventable determinations on the Agency's website. Instead, the Agency 
would accept information about any crash by email to the 
crash.preventability@dot.gov email address for any crash in SMS with a 
not preventable notation. Any information received would be fully 
considered and could result in a change in the determination. The 
Agency is specifically interested in receiving comments on this issue.

Document Requirement

    FMCSA also proposes requiring submitters to provide the complete 
PAR to participate in the program. In nearly all qualified submissions, 
a PAR was needed to reach a determination, and most submitters provided 
the PAR as the required compelling evidence. The submitter may provide 
other documentation as well, as the burden will remain on the submitter 
to provide compelling evidence showing that the crash was not 
preventable. Therefore, if only the PAR is submitted and it contains 
conflicting information about the crash (i.e., the narrative is 
different than the diagram or point of impact information) and FMCSA 
cannot determine eligibility for one of the 15 crash types, the crash 
will be deemed Not Eligible. If the crash is found to be eligible, the 
PAR information conflicts, this may result in an undecided 
determination.

Process Information

    The demonstration program required submitters to resubmit the RDR 
for it to be considered under another crash type. In the future, FMCSA 
proposes to develop the functionality in DataQs to allow FMCSA to 
change the crash type on behalf of the submitter to another eligible 
crash type, when appropriate.
    FMCSA will streamline the review process and use only one stage of 
contract reviewers to provide a recommendation. In addition, FMCSA may 
allow the contract reviewers to close RDRs for crashes that are not one 
of the 15 eligible crash types.
    To date, the stage 1 reviewer has pulled the MCMIS crash record and 
a current CDLIS report for the submitter's driver. For many RDRs, the 
driver had a license change such as a renewal or new medical 
certificate after the date of the crash, and FMCSA requested 
confirmation of the CDL or medical certificate on the date of the 
crash. On only a few RDRs did this result in a determination that the 
driver was not qualified on the date of the crash. In most RDRs, the 
MCMIS crash report accurately reflected the driver's proper licensing 
status at the time of the crash. As a result, FMCSA proposes to rely 
solely on the MCMIS report to confirm the driver's license and medical 
certification status as part of implementation.
    FMCSA proposes to continue reviewing any post-crash inspection 
reports and if the inspection shows that the CMV was in violation of an 
OOS regulation under the North American Standard OOS Criteria prior to 
the crash or that the driver was not properly licensed, the crash would 
be deemed preventable. In addition, FMCSA will continue to request 
post-crash drug and alcohol test results when the crash results in a 
fatality.

Crash Preventability Determinations During Investigations and Safety 
Audits

    It should be noted that the crash preventability determination 
program does not change FMCSA's processes for reviewing crashes during 
an investigation or safety audit. In the event an investigation or 
audit results in a different determination than was made through this 
program, FMCSA will review all information provided and the 
determination made through this program may change.

National Academy of Sciences' Correlation Study

    FMCSA proposes to make these changes to SMS separately from the 
ongoing work that FMCSA is undertaking in response to the June 27, 
2017, report of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), ``Improving 
Motor Carrier Safety Measurement.'' In its report, the NAS noted that 
the demonstration program was of interest but did not issue a 
recommendation directly relating to the program.
Comments Sought
    FMCSA seeks comments generally on the proposals described above. 
FMCSA also seeks comments specifically on the following questions.
    1. If you participated in the demonstration program, did you 
realize any new safety incentives to your operations? If so, how were 
they quantified?
    2. Would the ability to have not preventable crashes removed from 
the calculation of your Crash Indicator BASIC measure and percentile 
provide any new safety incentives to your operations?
    3. If you have not submitted a crash for a preventability 
determination, what were your reasons for not participating?

    Dated: July 31, 2019.
Raymond P. Martinez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-16693 Filed 8-2-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P