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 7 of 23
B-282071
We found that over the 10-year period, 1987-1996, the frequency rates of
fatal crashes per million miles driven for M939s averaged about seven
times higher than those for commercial trucks. The M939 accident rate
ranged from a high of 12 to a low of 3 times higher than the commercial
truck rate. In 1988, the M939’s accident rate was 0.23 and the commercial
truck rate was 0.02—about 12 times higher; and in 1992, the M939 accident
rate was 0.056 and the commercial truck rate was 0.018—about 3 times
higher. Figure 3 shows these statistics.
Figure 3: Comparison of Rate of Commercially Driven Single-Unit Medium and Heavy Trucks Fatal Crashes With Related
M939 Statistics, 1987-1996
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
Calendar year
Fatal crashes per 1,000,000 miles
M939
Commercial
Source: GAO analysis of Federal Highway Administration, Army Safety Center, and
Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command data.
We also found that, over this same 10-year period, the M939 occupant
fatality rate averaged about 30 times higher than those for commercial
GAO/NSIAD-99-82 Military Safety
Page 6
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