FATALITY FACTS 2004: LARGE TRUCKS
Sections:
OVERVIEW
WHERE AND WHEN LARGE TRUCK CRASHES OCCURRED
COMPARISON OF LARGE TRUCK AND PASSENGER VEHICLE CRASHES
Based on their numbers on the road and on the amount they travel, large trucks (tractor-trailers, single- unit trucks, and some cargo vans weighing more than 10,000 pounds) account for more than their share of highway deaths. Large trucks have higher fatal crash rates per mile traveled than passenger vehicles, although a higher percentage of large truck travel occurs on interstates, the safest roads.
Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants rather than occupants of large trucks.
The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars.
Truck braking capability can be a factor in truck crashes. Loaded tractor-trailers take 20-40 percent farther than cars to stop, and the discrepancy is greater when trailers are empty, on wet and slippery roads, or with poorly maintained brakes. Truck driver fatigue also is a known crash risk. Drivers of large trucks are allowed by federal hours-of-service regulations to drive up to 11 hours at a stretch and up to 77 hours over a 7-day period. Surveys indicate that many drivers violate the regulations and work
longer than permitted.
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2,3,4
The following facts are based on analysis of data from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS):
OVERVIEW
A total of 5,079 people died in large truck crashes in 2004, up 4 percent from 2003. Fifteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 72 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 11 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. Large truck crash deaths have declined 22 percent overall since 1979, when they were at an all-time high. There has been a greater
percentage decline among occupants of large trucks (46 percent) than among occupants of passenger vehicles (13 percent).
Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2004 Passenger vehicle
occupants Large truck
occupants Motorcyclist, bicyclist, and pedestrian
deaths Total*
Year Num % Num % Num % Num
1975 2,757 64 916 21 528 12 4,305
1976 3,071 63 1,100 22 622 13 4,893
1977 3,631 65 1,229 22 653 12 5,614
1978 3,954 64 1,315 21 776 13 6,160
1979 4,226 65 1,372 21 830 13 6,539
1980 3,623 63 1,183 21 844 15 5,740
1981 3,752 66 1,082 19 772 14 5,680
1982 3,447 67 917 18 679 13 5,125
1983 3,615 67 960 18 732 14 5,404
1984 3,712 67 1,040 19 712 13 5,550
1985 3,825 68 941 17 724 13 5,613
1986 3,752 69 892 16 718 13 5,468
1987 3,833 70 821 15 712 13 5,471
1988 3,938 71 886 16 647 12 5,566
1989 3,847 72 822 15 587 11 5,360
1990 3,790 73 684 13 615 12 5,174
1991 3,447 73 650 14 562 12 4,728
1992 3,300 75 580 13 481 11 4,422
1993 3,611 76 590 12 462 10 4,778
1994 3,764 74 658 13 555 11 5,069
1995 3,626 75 634 13 495 10 4,834
1996 3,866 77 602 12 465 9 5,048
1997 3,991 75 717 14 497 9 5,295
1998 3,981 75 739 14 495 9 5,316
1999 3,916 74 747 14 519 10 5,299
2000 3,863 75 737 14 490 9 5,173
2001 3,709 74 691 14 513 10 5,012
2002 3,616 75 675 14 464 10 4,846
2003 3,595 73 703 14 504 10 4,905
2004 3,678 72 738 15 563 11 5,079
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Ninety-eight percent of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck in 2004 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.
Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2004
Occupant type Deaths %
Passenger vehicle occupants 2,895 98
Large truck occupants 74 2
All occupant deaths 2,969 100
Large trucks accounted for 3 percent of registered vehicles and 7 percent of miles traveled in 2003.
Twelve percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2004 occurred in large truck crashes.
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Deaths in large truck crashes and all crashes, 2004
Crash type Deaths %
Large truck crashes 5,079 12
Other crashes 37,557 88
All crashes 42,636 100
Seventy-four percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2004 involved tractor-trailers and 28 percent involved single-unit trucks.
Deaths in large truck crashes by truck type involved, 2004
Truck type Deaths %
Tractor-trailer 3,746 74
Single-unit 1,419 28
NOTE:More than one large truck may be involved in a single crash and the deaths associated with that crash.
Sixty-four percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2004 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.
Occupant deaths in large trucks in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2004
Number of large trucks Deaths %
1 104 36
!2 186 64
Total 290 100
Twelve percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths and 22 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2004 occurred in crashes with large trucks.
Occupant deaths in passenger vehicles by crash type and large truck involvement, 2004 Large truck crashes Other crashes All crashes
Crash type Num % Num % Num
Single-vehicle 0 0 15,221 100 15,221
Multiple-vehicle 3,678 22 12,682 78 16,360
All crashes 3,678 12 27,903 88 31,581
Among vehicle occupants killed in large truck crashes, both the rate of passenger vehicle occupant deaths per truck mile traveled and the rate of large truck occupant deaths per truck mile traveled declined substantially from 1975 to 2003. The percentage decline in the death rate for large truck occupants (71 percent) exceeded the percentage decline in the rate for passenger vehicle occupants (51 percent).
Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100,000,000 truck miles traveled, 1975-2003 Large truck
occupants Passenger vehicle occupants Year Truck miles traveled in
millions Num Rate Num Rate
1975 81,330 916 1.1 2,757 3.4
1976 86,070 1,100 1.3 3,071 3.6
1977 95,021 1,229 1.3 3,631 3.8
1978 105,739 1,315 1.2 3,954 3.7
1979 109,004 1,372 1.3 4,226 3.9
1980 108,491 1,183 1.1 3,623 3.3
1981 108,702 1,082 1.0 3,752 3.5
1982 111,423 917 0.8 3,447 3.1
1983 116,132 960 0.8 3,615 3.1
1984 121,796 1,040 0.9 3,712 3.0
1985 123,504 941 0.8 3,825 3.1
1986 126,675 892 0.7 3,752 3.0
1987 133,517 821 0.6 3,833 2.9
1988 137,985 886 0.6 3,938 2.9
1989 142,749 822 0.6 3,847 2.7
1990 146,242 684 0.5 3,790 2.6
1991 149,543 650 0.4 3,447 2.3
1992 153,384 580 0.4 3,300 2.2
1993 159,888 590 0.4 3,611 2.3
1994 170,216 658 0.4 3,764 2.2
1995 178,162 634 0.4 3,626 2.0
1996 182,971 602 0.3 3,866 2.1
1997 191,477 717 0.4 3,991 2.1
1998 196,380 739 0.4 3,981 2.0
1999 202,697 747 0.4 3,916 1.9
2000 205,791 737 0.4 3,863 1.9
2001 207,686 691 0.3 3,709 1.8
2002 214,603 675 0.3 3,616 1.7
2003 215,884 703 0.3 3,595 1.7
2004 not available 738 not available 3,678 not available
WHERE AND WHEN LARGE TRUCK CRASHES OCCURRED
Sixty percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2004 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 30 percent occurred on interstates and freeways, and 9 percent occurred on minor roads.
Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2004
Road type Deaths %
Interstates and freeways 1,531 30
Major roads 3,030 60
Minor roads 464 9
All road types* 5,079 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Sixty-six percent of large truck crash deaths in 2004 occurred during the day (6 am to 6 pm), compared with 47 percent of crash deaths involving other types of vehicles.
Deaths in large truck crashes and all crashes by time of day, 2004 Large truck crashes Other crashes All crashes Time of day Deaths % Deaths % Deaths %
Midnight-3am 349 7 4,905 13 5,254 12
3am-6am 451 9 2,941 8 3,392 8
6am-9am 711 14 3,384 9 4,095 10
9am-Noon 883 17 3,347 9 4,230 10
Noon-3pm 968 19 4,753 13 5,721 13
3pm-6pm 811 16 6,217 17 7,028 16
6pm-9pm 509 10 6,102 16 6,611 16
9pm-Midnight 396 8 5,535 15 5,931 14
Total* 5,079 100 37,557 100 42,636 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
Sixteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2004 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 37 percent of crash deaths involving other types of vehicles
Deaths in large truck crashes and all crashes by day of week, 2004 Large truck crashes Other crashes All crashes
Day of week Deaths % Deaths % Deaths %
Sunday 346 7 6,648 18 6,994 16
Monday 816 16 4,462 12 5,278 12
Tuesday 810 16 4,095 11 4,905 12
Wednesday 847 17 4,332 12 5,179 12
Thursday 872 17 4,763 13 5,635 13
Friday 915 18 5,892 16 6,807 16
Saturday 473 9 7,345 20 7,818 18
Total* 5,079 100 37,557 100 42,636 100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns
COMPARISON OF LARGE TRUCK AND PASSENGER VEHICLE CRASHES
Fifty-one percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2004 occurred in crashes in which their vehicles rolled over. This was lower than the percentage of SUV occupant deaths (62 percent) in rollover crashes and higher than the percentage of occupant deaths in pickup (45 percent) and car (23 percent) rollover crashes.
Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2004 No rollover Rollover All crashes
Vehicle type Num % Num % Num
Large truck 363 49 375 51 738
SUV 1,782 38 2,888 62 4,670
Pickup 3,191 55 2,560 45 5,751
Car 15,686 77 4,757 23 20,443
Sixty-one percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2004 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 48 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.
Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2004 Large truck occupants Passenger vehicle occupants
Crash type Num % Num %
Single-vehicle 448 61 15,221 48
Multiple-vehicle 290 39 16,360 52
All crashes 738 100 31,581 100
Sixteen percent of large trucks in fatal crashes in 2004 were involved in single-vehicle crashes. By comparison, 38 percent of passenger vehicles in fatal crashes were involved in single-vehicle crashes.
Large truck and passenger vehicle involvement in fatal crashes by number of vehicles involved, 2004 Large trucks Passenger vehicles
Crash type Num % Num %
Single vehicle 735 16 17,854 38
Two vehicles 3,021 64 22,247 47
>2 vehicles 984 21 7,335 15
All crashes 4,740 100 47,436 100
Thirty-six percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2004 were using seat belts, compared with 43 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers. Belt use was coded as unknown for 16 percent of fatally injured large truck drivers, compared with 7 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers.
Seat belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2004 Large truck drivers Passenger vehicle drivers
Belt use Num % Num %
Unbelted 296 48 10,994 50
Belt used 222 36 9,389 43
Unknown belt use 101 16 1,455 7
Total 619 100 21,838 100
In contrast with passenger vehicle drivers, large truck drivers killed in fatal crashes rarely had high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). Truck drivers are subject to strict government regulations concerning drinking and driving. Only 4 percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2004 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, down from 17 percent in 1982. Thirty-two percent of fatally injured
passenger vehicle drivers in 2004 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, compared with 51 percent in 1982.
Estimated percent and number of fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers with BACs!
0.08 percent, 1982-2004
Large truck drivers Passenger vehicle drivers
Deaths Estimated deaths with BACs!0.08 Deaths Estimated deaths with BACs!0.08
Year Num Num % Num Num %
1982 735 123 17 19,663 10,023 51
1983 767 115 15 19,337 9,529 49
1984 859 107 12 20,298 9,378 46
1985 775 84 11 20,057 8,674 43
1986 736 58 8 21,503 9,396 44
1987 686 53 8 22,157 9,343 42
1988 743 66 9 22,884 9,580 42
1989 681 68 10 22,554 9,200 41
1990 570 50 9 21,953 8,973 41
1991 550 39 7 20,551 8,242 40
1992 506 26 5 19,573 7,434 38
1993 504 26 5 20,036 7,328 37
1994 545 36 7 20,644 7,083 34
1995 546 31 6 21,456 7,488 35
1996 525 34 6 21,631 7,336 34
1997 616 19 3 21,702 7,062 33
1998 628 30 5 21,627 6,944 32
1999 631 28 4 21,899 6,994 32
2000 641 28 4 21,819 7,127 33
2001 591 22 4 21,862 7,205 33
2002 582 38 7 22,537 7,381 33
2003 608 23 4 22,200 7,120 32
2004 619 23 4 21,838 7,037 32
REFERENCES
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1987. Heavy truck safety study. Report no. DOT HS-807- 109. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.
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Braver, E.R.; Preusser, C.W.; Preusser, D.F.; Baum, H.M.; Beilock, R.; and Ulmer, R. 1992. Long hours and fatigue: a survey of tractor-trailer drivers. 13: 341-66.
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Journal of Public Health Policy
McCartt, A.T.; Hammer, M.C.; and Fuller, S.Z. 1997. Work and sleep/rest factors associated with driving while drowsy: experiences among long-distance truck drivers.
, 95-108. Des Plaines, IL: Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.
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Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine
McCartt, A.T.; Hellinga, L.A.; and Solomon, M.G. 2005. Work schedules before and after 2004 hours-of- service rule change and predictors of reported rule violations in 2004: survey of long-distance truck drivers. To be presented at the 2005 International Truck and Bus Safety and Security Symposium, Alexandria, VA. Arlington, VA: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
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Federal Highway Administration. 2004. Highway statistics, 2003. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.
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