Search this site

I) Database Structure Preferences

The survey respondents were asked to identify whether the proposed accident database should be mandatory or voluntary, should be sponsored by industry or government, and whether it should be a new process/database or whether it should build on existing programs (i.e. add fields to Form 5800.1 and increase reporting compliance).  Opinions varied within industry groups concerning the preferred database approaches; however, the reasons for choosing one approach over another tended to be similar across stakeholder groups, regardless of the preferred approach.   

In general, the respondents were fairly evenly split as to their preference between mandatory verses voluntary (Table 1) reporting, 67% of respondents were in favor of an industry verses government-sponsored approach (Table 2) and 63% of respondents were in favor of building off of an existing database verses a new database approach (Table 3). 

Table 1: Mandatory vs. Voluntary Preferred Database Approach

% Stakeholders

 

Main Concerns

Mandatory Approach

  41% Carriers
  75% Researchers
  25% Repair Facilities
  33% Manufacturers
  17% Shippers

 
  • Increased workload justification / fairness
  • Fear of legal liability leads to unreported incidents if not mandatory
  • Small sample sizes from which to draw conclusions if reporting is not mandatory

Voluntary Approach

  59% Carriers
  25% Researchers
  75% Repair Facilities
  66% Manufacturers
  83% Shippers


  • Increased workload with little perceived benefit
  • Fear of legal liability leads to underreporting
  • Small sample size for particular cargo tank type
  • Time lag between crash and report submittal

 

Table 2: Industry vs. Government Sponsored Preferred Database Approach

% Stakeholders

 

Main Concerns

Industry Sponsored Approach

  65% Carriers
  25% Researchers
 100% Repair Facilities
  67% Manufacturers
  86% Shippers

 
  • Industry has the expertise (knowledge / experience) to correctly interpret the data
  • Industry will be better able to keep the program on track
  • The industry is overregulated as it is, but has good self-regulation
  • Increased ability to change what is being reported
  • Industry sponsored approaches lead to more homogeneous samples

Government Sponsored Approach

  28% Carriers
  75% Researchers
    0% Repair Facilities
  33% Manufacturers
  14% Shippers

 
  • Government is better equipped to keep the program on track and deal with enforcement issues (if mandatory approach is also adopted)
  • Government is better able to absorb costs of maintaining such a database
  • Government has the expertise (knowledge / experience) to correctly interpret the data
  • Data will be available for researchers to analyze


Table 3: New Database vs. Build off of Existing Program Preferred Database Approach

% Stakeholders

 

Main Concerns

New Database Approach

  24% Carriers
  25% Researchers
  38% Repair Facilities
  33% Manufacturers
  60% Shippers

 
  • Maintain familiarity with reporting
  • Reduce amount of information reported
  • Newer reporting technology leads to a better understanding of events and better quality data

Build on Existing Programs Approach

  59% Carriers
  75% Researchers
  38% Repair Facilities
  66% Manufacturers
  40% Shippers

 
  • Quicker enactment
  • Ability to improve efficiency and simplify reporting
  • Reduce redundant reporting