GAO-NSIAD-99-82-B-282071
MILITARY SAFETY
Army M939 5-Ton Truck Accident History and Planned Modifications
APRIL 1999
GAO-NSIAD-99-82-B-282071 - Page 5 of 23
B-282071
In analyzing this selected accident information compiled by the Army
Safety Center, we found the frequency of M939 accidents high in each
instance. For the 11-1/2 year period reviewed, the M939 series truck
inventory averaged 26,991, or about 9 percent of the average annual Army
motor vehicle inventory of about 314,000 vehicles, and accounted for
about 15 percent of the total Army motor vehicle accidents.
2
Appendix I
shows the actual figures by year, 1987-1998.
Our comparison of M939 accident statistics with accident statistics for the
rest of the Army motor vehicle fleet showed that the M939 accounted for
about 34 percent of all Army motor vehicle fatal accident events, and
34 percent of all Army motor vehicle occupant deaths. Comparative
rollover statistics revealed much the same. The M939 rollovers accounted
for 17 percent of the total Army motor vehicle rollovers, and 44 percent of
the total Army motor vehicle rollover fatalities. Figure 2 shows these
accident statistics.
2
Army Regulation 385-40 establishes the criteria for Army motor vehicle classification of a motor
vehicle involved in an accident. A vehicle’s general purpose must be to transport cargo or personnel,
and be under full operational control of the Army. A vehicle can include a passenger car, station
wagon, truck, ambulance, bus, motorcycle, fire truck, or refueling truck.
GAO/NSIAD-99-82 Military Safety
Page 4
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