• Fatal Crashes.  From 1989 to 1999, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes declined from 4,984 to 4,898—down 2%. The number of large trucks in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled declined in these years from 3.5 to 2.5—down 29%. The same rate for passenger vehicles fell from 2.6 to 1.9—down 27%.

Injury Crashes

• From 1989 to 1999, the number of large trucks involved in injury crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled declined by 35%, while the rate for passenger vehicles dropped by 22%.

Vehicles

• In 1999, large trucks drove 7% of all vehicle miles traveled and made up 4% of all registered vehicles in the United States.  In motor vehicle crashes, large trucks represented:
• 9% of vehicles in fatal crashes
• 3% of vehicles in injury crashes
• 5% of vehicles in property-damage-only crashes
• Truck tractors pulling semi-trailers accounted for 65% of the trucks involved in fatal crashes and more than 50% of the trucks involved in nonfatal crashes.
• Doubles (truck tractors pulling a semi-trailer and a full trailer) were only 2% of trucks involved in crashes, and triples (tractors pulling three trailers) accounted for less than 0.5% of all trucks involved in crashes.
• Only 4% of trucks involved in fatal crashes and 3% of trucks involved in nonfatal crashes were carrying hazardous materials (HM). HM was released from the cargo compartment in about one-fifth of these crashes.

Drivers

• Only 1% of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 1999 were legally intoxicated (blood alcohol content of 0.10 grams per deciliter or higher), as compared with 17% of passenger car and 20% of light truck drivers in fatal crashes. Only 2% of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes had any alcohol in their bloodstream.
• Seventy percent of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes with passenger vehicles were reported by police as wearing their safety belts, compared with 53% of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes.
• In fatal crashes involving large trucks, crash-related factors were cited for 38% of the truck drivers. In comparison, crash-related factors were noted for 65% of the passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes. The three most common factors cited for drivers of large trucks and passenger vehicles were the same: driving too fast, running off the road or out of the traffic lane, and failure to yield the right of way.

Crash Environment

• Speeding (exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions) was a factor in 20% of the fatal crashes involving a large truck, compared with 31% of all fatal crashes. Seventeen percent of injury crashes involving a large truck and 17% of all injury crashes were speed related.
• No adverse weather conditions were reported for 87% of the fatal crashes and for 86% of the nonfatal crashes involving large trucks in 1999. Rain was the most common adverse condition.
• Two-thirds (67%) of the fatal crashes involving large trucks—and four-fifths (80%) of the nonfatal crashes—occurred during the day.
• The vast majority of the fatal crashes involving large trucks (84%) and of the nonfatal crashes (86%) occurred on Monday through Friday.
• For 78% of the fatal crashes and for 71% of the nonfatal crashes involving large trucks, the first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in transport.
• Rollover was the first harmful event for only 4% of the fatal crashes and only 3% of the nonfatal crashes involving large trucks.
• More than one-fourth (26%) of fatal crashes that took place in work zones—areas of construction, maintenance, or utility activity—involved a large truck.

Definitions

Large Trucks:  Trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

Passenger Vehicles:  Passenger cars and light trucks—such as vans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks—with 10,000 pounds GVWR or less.

Fatal Crash Data:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Nonfatal Crash Data:  National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, General Estimates System (GES); and FMCSA, Motor Carrier Management Information System (MCMIS) crash file.

Vehicle Miles Traveled:  Federal Highway Administration.

For more information, contact the Analysis Division at (202) 366-1861.

Publication No. DOT-MC-01-053