Every 16 minutes, one person is killed or injured in accidents involving 18-wheelers, tractors, or semi-trailers.
In 2001, 429,000 large trucks were involved in traffic accidents (fatal and minor) in the United States:
– 4,793 were involved in fatal accidents
– 5,082 people died
– 131,000 were injured
– In 2001, there were a total of 6,536 crashes involving trailer trucks in Pennsylvania; 154 were fatal.
In 2003, there were a total of 58,512 vehicle accidents involved in fatal crashes in the US.
– 4,669 were large trucks involved in fatal truck accidents
– Large trucks are more likely to be involved in a fatal multi-vehicle accident than passenger vehicles.
In 2003, Texas witnessed 5,040 fatal traffic accidents, of which 438 were fatal truck accidents. This number has risen from 5,039 total traffic accidents and 401 fatal truck accidents for the previous year 2002. Similarly, in Pennsylvania, there were 2,233 fatal traffic accidents in 2003, of which 213 were fatal truck accidents, compared with corresponding figures of 2,198,174 for the year 2002. Florida had 4,432 fatal traffic accidents in 2003, 343 of them involving trucks, which was greater than the total of 4,431 traffic accidents for 2002 but less than the 351 traffic accidents fatal in the same period. The highest number of fatal car accidents occurred in California, with a staggering 5,725 fatal car accidents in 2003. But at 332, the number of fatal truck accidents was not the highest among all US states.
Trucking revenue totaled $ 610 billion last year and revenue is forecast to nearly double by 2015. Most fatal truck accidents occur in rural areas (68 percent) during the day (66 percent) and weekdays (78 percent). In 2002, the majority of large truck accidents occurred in good weather (71 percent), on dry roads (71 percent), during the day (75 percent), and on weekdays (88 percent).
About 27 percent of all large truck drivers involved in fatal truck accidents in the United States had at least one prior speeding conviction compared to 19 percent of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes . From 1992 to 2002, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes has increased by as much as 10% due to driver fatigue, unsafe vehicle operation, large and unstable loads, or faulty equipment.
Defects contribute to the number of large truck accidents each year. Some of these defects include:
– Tires or wheels: 80 shocks
– Brake related: 76 shocks
– Engine / Transmission: 52 shocks
– Steering wheel: 13 shocks
Approximately 700 heavy truck drivers and passengers in truck cabs die each year. Additionally, nearly 3,700 people in cars and other passenger vehicles are killed annually in collisions with heavy trucks.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that in crashes involving large trucks and other vehicles, 98% of fatalities occur to people in passenger vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned groups using 15-seat passenger vans about the dangers of fully loading the vans and then putting an inexperienced driver behind the wheel. The NHTSA also stated that 15-passenger vans are large trucks and should only be driven by people with experience in driving large trucks.
The FMCSA’s Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) classifies a truck as large if its gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) exceeds 10,000 pounds.
Most fatal crashes involving trailer trucks include trucks that are pulling a trailer. A recent survey showed that 64% of fatal truck accidents had a trailer. Thirty-two percent of those involved single-unit trucks (no trailer) and less than 4% of those involved vehicles with multiple trailers (more than one trailer).
