2002 Large Truck Crash Overview
Analysis Division
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Publication No. FMCSA-RI-04-022
April 2004
The mission of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
is to promote the safe operation of commercial vehicles on our Nation’s
highways. Of all the people killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2002, 12%
(4,897) died in crashes that involved a large truck. Another 130,000 people
were injured in crashes involving large trucks. Only about 14% of those
killed and 20% of those injured were occupants of large trucks.
Trends
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Fatal Crashes.
From 1992 to 2002, the number of large trucks involved in
fatal crashes increased from 4,035 to 4,542—up 10%. The number of large
trucks in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled declined
in these years from 2.6 to 2.3—down 12%. The same rate for passenger vehicles
fell from 2.1 to 1.9—down 10%.
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Injury Crashes.
From 1992 to 2002, the number of large trucks involved
in injury crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled declined by 29%,
while the rate for passenger vehicles dropped by 23%.
Vehicles
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In 2002, large trucks drove 7% of all vehicle miles traveled and made up
3% of all registered vehicles in the United States. In motor vehicle crashes,
large trucks represented:
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8% of vehicles in fatal crashes
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3% of vehicles in injury crashes
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4% of vehicles in property-damage-only crashes.
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Truck tractors pulling semi-trailers accounted for 63% of the trucks involved
in fatal crashes and about 50% of the trucks involved in nonfatal crashes.
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Doubles (truck tractors pulling a semi-trailer and a full trailer) were
only 3% of trucks involved in both fatal and nonfatal crashes, and triples
(tractors pulling three trailers) accounted for less than 0.5% of all trucks
involved.
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Only 4% of trucks involved in fatal crashes and 2% of trucks involved in
nonfatal crashes were carrying hazardous materials (HM). HM was released
from the cargo compartment in 13% of these crashes.
Drivers
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Only 2% of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2002
were legally intoxicated (blood alcohol content of 0.08 grams per deciliter
or higher), as compared with 22% of passenger car drivers and 23% 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.
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Seventy-five percent of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes
were reported by police as wearing their safety belts, compared with 57%
of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes.
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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 67% of passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes. Some
of the most common factors cited for drivers of large trucks and drivers
of 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
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Speeding (exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions)
was a factor in 21% of the fatal crashes involving a large truck, compared
with 31% of all fatal crashes. Nineteen percent of injury crashes involving
a large truck and 20% of all injury crashes were speed related.
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No adverse weather conditions were reported for 86% of the fatal crashes
and for 88% of the nonfatal crashes involving large trucks in 2002. Rain
was the most common adverse weather condition.
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Two-thirds (67%) of the fatal crashes involving large trucks—and nearly
four-fifths (77%) of the nonfatal crashes—occurred during the day.
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The vast majority of the fatal crashes involving large trucks (85%) and
of the nonfatal crashes (88%) occurred on Monday through Friday.
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For 78% of the fatal crashes and for 69% of the nonfatal crashes involving
large trucks, the first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle
in transport.
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Rollover was the first harmful event for only 4% of the fatal crashes and
only 2% of the nonfatal crashes involving large trucks.
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More than one-fifth (23%) 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.
Data Sources
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.
