Highway Special Investigation Report

In May 2005, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) began its investigation of a school bus accident that occurred in Liberty, Missouri. During the course of the investigation, information was uncovered that suggested pedal misapplication as a factor in the accident-that is, depressing the accelerator instead of, or in addition to, the brake pedal. The NTSB subsequently investigated four additional accidents-in Falls Township and Newtown, Pennsylvania; Asbury Park, New Jersey; and Nanuet, New York-involving heavy vehicles in which pedal misapplication was determined to be a factor. Despite varying circumstances, these five accidents share common elements. In all five, the drivers either reported a loss of braking or were observed by vehicle occupants to be unsuccessfully attempting to stop the vehicles, though no evidence of braking system failure was found.