Fatality Facts 2005

Large trucks

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.¹ 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 during a 7-day period. Surveys indicate that many drivers violate the regulations and work longer than permitted.^2,3,4

The following facts are based on analysis of data from the US Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Overview

A total of 5,027 people died in large truck crashes in 2005. Fifteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 71 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 12 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. Large truck crash deaths have declined 23 percent overall since 1979, when they were at an all-time high. There has been a greater percentage decline in deaths among occupants of large trucks (45 percent) than among occupants of passenger vehicles (16 percent).

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2005

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2005
Year	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	3,693	72	743	15	564	11	5,099
2005	3,561	71	759	15	595	12	5,027
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Ninety-seven percent of vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes involving a passenger vehicle and large truck in 2005 were occupants of the passenger vehicle.

Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving large truck and passenger vehicle, 2005
Occupant type	Deaths	%
Passenger vehicle occupants	2,771	97
Large truck occupants	72	3
All occupant deaths	2,843	100

Large trucks accounted for 3 percent of registered vehicles and 7 percent of miles traveled in 2005.⁵ Twelve percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2005 occurred in large truck crashes.

Deaths in large truck crashes and all crashes, 2005
Crash type	Deaths	%
Large truck crashes	5,027	12
Other crashes	38,416	88
All crashes	43,443	100

Seventy-three percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2005 involved tractor-trailers and 28 percent involved single-unit trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes by truck type involved, 2005
Truck type	Deaths	%
Tractor-trailer	3,694	73
Single-unit	1,399	28
Note: More than one large truck may be involved in a single crash and the deaths associated with that crash.

Sixty-five percent of large truck occupants killed in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2005 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.

Occupant deaths in large trucks in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large trucks involved, 2005
Number of large trucks	Deaths	%
1	110	35
≥ 2	206	65
Total	316	100

Eleven percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths and 22 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2005 occurred in crashes with large trucks.

Occupant deaths in passenger vehicles by crash type and large truck involvement, 2005
Crash type	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Crash type	Num	%	Num	%	Num
Single-vehicle	0	0	15,398	100	15,398
Multiple-vehicle	3,561	22	12,345	78	15,906
All crashes*	3,561	11	27,761	89	31,322
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

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 2005. The percentage decline in the death rate for large truck occupants (70 percent) exceeded the percentage decline in the rate for passenger vehicle occupants (53 percent).

Vehicle occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2005

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100,000,000 truck miles traveled, 1975-2005
Year	Truck miles traveled (in millions)	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	220,811	743	0.3	3,693	1.7
2005	222,836	759	0.3	3,561	1.6

Where and when large truck crashes occurred

Fifty-five percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2005 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 31 percent occurred on interstates and freeways, and 10 percent occurred on minor roads.

Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2005
Road type	Deaths	%
Interstates and freeways	1,572	31
Major roads	2,785	55
Minor roads	495	10
All road types*	5,027	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty-six percent of large truck crash deaths in 2005 occurred during the day (6am to 6pm), compared with 47 percent of crash deaths involving other types of vehicles.

Deaths in large truck crashes and all crashes by time of day, 2005
Time of day	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Time of day	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Midnight-3am	385	8	5,144	13	5,529	13
3am-6am	474	9	3,015	8	3,489	8
6am-9am	762	15	3,533	9	4,295	10
9am-noon	833	17	3,289	9	4,122	9
Noon-3pm	926	18	4,687	12	5,613	13
3pm-6pm	815	16	6,419	17	7,234	17
6pm-9pm	430	9	6,378	17	6,808	16
9pm-midnight	398	8	5,622	15	6,020	14
Total*	5,027	100	38,416	100	43,443	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2005 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 38 percent of crash deaths involving other types of vehicles.

Deaths in large truck crashes and all crashes by day of week, 2005
Day of week	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Day of week	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Sunday	304	6	6,748	18	7,052	16
Monday	786	16	4,653	12	5,439	13
Tuesday	875	17	4,230	11	5,105	12
Wednesday	893	18	4,402	11	5,295	12
Thursday	837	17	4,717	12	5,554	13
Friday	861	17	5,985	16	6,846	16
Saturday	471	9	7,670	20	8,141	19
Total*	5,027	100	38,416	100	43,443	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Comparison of large truck and passenger vehicle crashes

Fifty percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2005 occurred in crashes in which their vehicles rolled over. This was lower than the percentage of SUV occupant deaths (60 percent) that occurred in rollover crashes and higher than the percentage of occupant deaths in pickups (46 percent) and cars (24 percent) involving rollovers.

Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2005
Vehicle type	No rollover		Rollover		All crashes
Vehicle type	Num	%	Num	%	Num
Large truck	381	50	378	50	759
SUV	1,909	40	2,850	60	4,759
Pickup	3,277	54	2,798	46	6,075
Car	14,999	76	4,812	24	19,811

Fifty-eight percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2005 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 49 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2005
Crash type	Large truck occupants		Passenger vehicle occupants
Crash type	Num	%	Num	%
Single-vehicle	442	58	15,398	49
Multiple-vehicle	316	42	15,906	51
All crashes*	759	100	31,322	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixteen percent of large trucks in fatal crashes in 2005 were involved in single-vehicle crashes; in contrast, 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, 2005
Crash type	Large trucks		Passenger vehicles
Crash type	Num	%	Num	%
Single vehicle	766	16	18,255	38
Two vehicles	2,963	62	21,970	46
>2 vehicles	1,009	21	7,321	15
All crashes*	4,744	100	47,574	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Thirty-four percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2005 were using seat belts, compared with 42 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers. Belt use was unknown for 18 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, 2005
Belt use	Large truck drivers		Passenger vehicle drivers
Belt use	Num	%	Num	%
Belt used	226	34	9,288	42
Unbelted	320	48	11,103	51
Unknown belt use	118	18	1,489	7
Total	664	100	21,880	100

In contrast with passenger vehicle drivers, large truck drivers killed in fatal crashes rarely have high blood alcohol concentrations (BACs). Truck drivers are subject to strict government regulations concerning drinking and driving. Only 3 percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2005 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, down from 17 percent in 1982. Thirty-three percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2005 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, 1982-2005
Year	Large truck drivers			Passenger vehicle drivers
	Deaths	Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08		Deaths	Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
	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	624	24	4	21,952	6,952	32
2005	664	21	3	21,880	7,117	33

References

¹National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1987. Heavy truck safety study. Report no. DOT HS-807-109. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation.

²Braver, 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. Journal of Public Health Policy 13:341-66.

³McCartt, 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. Proceedings of the 41st Annual Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine, 95-108. Des Plaines, IL: Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine.

⁴McCartt, 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. Proceedings of the 2005 International Truck and Bus Safety and Security Symposium, CD-ROM, 33-45. Itasca, IL: National Safety Council.

⁵Federal Highway Administration. 2005. Highway statistics, 2005. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation. Available:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policy/ohim/hs05/pdf/vm1.pdf.