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FATALITY FACTS 2011

Large trucks

Most deaths in large truck crashes are passenger vehicle occupants. The main problem is the vulnerability of people traveling in smaller vehicles. Trucks often weigh 20-30 times as much as passenger cars and are taller with greater ground clearance, which can result in smaller vehicles underriding trucks in crashes.

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 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 seven-day period. Surveys indicate that many drivers violate the regulations and work longer than permitted. McCartt, A.T.; Hellinga L.A.; and Solomon, M.G. 2008. Work schedules of long-distance truck drivers before and after 2004 hours-of-service rule change. Traffic Injury Prevention 9:201-10.

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

Data subsections:

Trends Where and when large truck crashes occurred Comparison of large truck crashes and passenger vehicle crashes

Trends

A total of 3,373 people died in large truck crashes in 2011. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 66 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists. The number of people who died in large truck crashes was 7 percent higher in 2011 than in 2009, when it was lower than at any year since the collection of fatal crash data began in 1975. The number of truck occupants who died was 23 percent higher than in 2009. Since 1979, when deaths in large truck crashes were at an all time high, there has been a greater percentage decline among occupants of large trucks (60 percent) than among occupants of passenger vehicles (47 percent).

Deaths in crashes involving large trucks, 1975-2011

Year	Passenger vehicle occupants		Large truck occupants		Motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians		Total*
Year	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
1975	2,757	64	916	21	528	12	4,305	100
1976	3,071	63	1,100	22	622	13	4,893	100
1977	3,631	65	1,229	22	653	12	5,614	100
1978	3,954	64	1,315	21	776	13	6,160	100
1979	4,226	65	1,372	21	830	13	6,539	100
1980	3,623	63	1,183	21	844	15	5,740	100
1981	3,752	66	1,082	19	772	14	5,680	100
1982	3,448	67	917	18	679	13	5,125	100
1983	3,615	67	960	18	732	14	5,404	100
1984	3,713	67	1,040	19	712	13	5,550	100
1985	3,825	68	941	17	724	13	5,613	100
1986	3,752	69	892	16	718	13	5,468	100
1987	3,833	70	821	15	712	13	5,471	100
1988	3,938	71	886	16	647	12	5,566	100
1989	3,847	72	822	15	587	11	5,360	100
1990	3,790	73	684	13	615	12	5,174	100
1991	3,447	73	650	14	562	12	4,728	100
1992	3,300	75	580	13	481	11	4,422	100
1993	3,611	76	590	12	462	10	4,778	100
1994	3,764	74	658	13	555	11	5,069	100
1995	3,626	75	634	13	495	10	4,834	100
1996	3,866	77	602	12	465	9	5,048	100
1997	3,992	75	717	14	497	9	5,295	100
1998	3,981	75	739	14	495	9	5,316	100
1999	3,916	74	747	14	519	10	5,299	100
2000	3,863	75	737	14	490	9	5,173	100
2001	3,709	74	691	14	513	10	5,012	100
2002	3,616	75	675	14	464	10	4,846	100
2003	3,595	73	703	14	504	10	4,905	100
2004	3,693	72	743	15	564	11	5,099	100
2005	3,584	71	758	15	595	12	5,049	100
2006	3,466	71	774	16	564	12	4,886	100
2007	3,234	70	745	16	578	13	4,613	100
2008	2,774	69	615	15	580	14	4,017	100
2009	2,223	71	449	14	443	14	3,147	100
2010	2,453	72	475	14	445	13	3,418	100
2011	2,241	66	553	16	525	16	3,373	100
*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 2011 were occupants of the passenger vehicles.

Occupant deaths in two-vehicle crashes involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle, 2011

Occupant type	Deaths	%
Passenger vehicle occupants	1,842	98
Large truck occupants	47	2
All occupant deaths	1,889	100

Ten percent of motor vehicle crash deaths in 2011 occurred in large truck crashes.

Percentage of motor vehicle crash deaths occurring in large truck crashes and other crashes, 2011

Crash type	Deaths	%
Large truck crashes	3,373	10
Other crashes	28,994	90
All crashes	32,367	100

Seventy-six percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2011 were in crashes involving tractor-trailers and 25 percent were in crashes involving single-unit trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes by truck type involved, 2011

Truck type	Deaths	%
Tractor-trailer	2,580	76
Single-unit	831	25
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 2011 occurred in collisions involving another large truck.

Deaths of large truck occupants in multiple-vehicle crashes by number of large truck involved, 2011

Number of large trucks	Deaths	%
1	78	36
≥ 2	141	64
Total	219	100

Ten percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths and 22 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in multiple-vehicle crashes in 2011 occurred in crashes with large trucks.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths by crash type and large truck involvement, 2011

Crash type	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%	Number
Single-vehicle	0	0	11,188	100	11,188
Multiple-vehicle	2,241	22	7,918	78	10,159
All crashes*	2,241	10	19,106	90	21,347
*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 have declined substantially since 1975. Federal Highway Administration. 2012. Highway statistics, 2010. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Transportation.

Occupant deaths in large truck crashes per 100 million truck miles traveled, 1975-2011

Year	Truck miles traveled in millions	Passenger vehicle occupants		Large truck occupants
Year	Truck miles traveled in millions	Number	rate	Number	rate
1975	81,330	2,757	3.39	916	1.13
1976	86,070	3,071	3.57	1,100	1.28
1977	95,021	3,631	3.82	1,229	1.29
1978	105,739	3,954	3.74	1,315	1.24
1979	109,004	4,226	3.88	1,372	1.26
1980	108,491	3,623	3.34	1,183	1.09
1981	108,702	3,752	3.45	1,082	1.00
1982	111,423	3,448	3.09	917	0.82
1983	116,132	3,615	3.11	960	0.83
1984	121,796	3,713	3.05	1,040	0.85
1985	123,504	3,825	3.10	941	0.76
1986	126,675	3,752	2.96	892	0.70
1987	133,517	3,833	2.87	821	0.61
1988	137,985	3,938	2.85	886	0.64
1989	142,749	3,847	2.69	822	0.58
1990	146,242	3,790	2.59	684	0.47
1991	149,543	3,447	2.31	650	0.43
1992	153,384	3,300	2.15	580	0.38
1993	159,888	3,611	2.26	590	0.37
1994	170,216	3,764	2.21	658	0.39
1995	178,162	3,626	2.04	634	0.36
1996	182,971	3,866	2.11	602	0.33
1997	191,477	3,992	2.08	717	0.37
1998	196,380	3,981	2.03	739	0.38
1999	202,688	3,916	1.93	747	0.37
2000	205,520	3,863	1.88	737	0.36
2001	209,032	3,709	1.77	691	0.33
2002	214,603	3,616	1.68	675	0.31
2003	217,917	3,595	1.65	703	0.32
2004	220,792	3,693	1.67	743	0.34
2005	222,523	3,584	1.61	758	0.34
2006	222,513	3,466	1.56	774	0.35
2007	304,178	3,234	1.06	745	0.24
2008	310,680	2,774	0.89	615	0.20
2009	288,306	2,223	0.77	449	0.16
2010	286,527	2,453	0.86	475	0.17
2011	267,207	2,241	0.84	553	0.21
NOTE: The method of estimating truck miles travelled was changed beginning in 2007, and these results are not comparable to those of past years. For more information, visit http://www.fhwa.dot.gov

Where and when large truck crashes occurred

Fifty-nine percent of deaths in large truck crashes in 2011 occurred on major roads other than interstates and freeways, 31 percent occurred on interstates and freeways, and 9 percent occurred on minor roads.

Deaths in large truck crashes by road type, 2011

Road type	Deaths	%
Interstates and freeways	1,055	31
Other major roads	2,003	59
Minor roads	300	9
All road types*	3,373	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-nine percent of large truck crash deaths in 2011 occurred from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., compared with 31 percent of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by time of day, 2011

Time of day	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Time of day	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Midnight - 3 a.m.	277	8	3,845	13	4,122	13
3 a.m. - 6 a.m.	347	10	2,333	8	2,680	8
6 a.m. - 9 a.m.	490	15	2,671	9	3,161	10
9 a.m. - Noon	512	15	2,577	9	3,089	10
Noon - 3 p.m.	650	19	3,706	13	4,356	13
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.	543	16	4,644	16	5,187	16
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.	295	9	4,791	17	5,086	16
9 p.m. - Midnight	257	8	4,204	14	4,461	14
Total*	3,373	100	28,994	100	32,367	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Fifteen percent of large truck crash deaths in 2011 occurred on Saturday and Sunday, compared with 37 percent of crash deaths not involving large trucks.

Deaths in large truck crashes and other crashes by day of week, 2011

Day of Week	Large truck crashes		Other crashes		All crashes
Day of Week	Deaths	%	Deaths	%	Deaths	%
Sunday	216	6	4,913	17	5,129	16
Monday	529	16	3,511	12	4,040	12
Tuesday	606	18	3,323	11	3,929	12
Wednesday	591	18	3,346	12	3,937	12
Thursday	570	17	3,655	13	4,225	13
Friday	572	17	4,388	15	4,960	15
Saturday	289	9	5,858	20	6,147	19
Total*	3,373	100	28,994	100	32,367	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Comparison of large truck crashes and passenger vehicle crashes

Fifty-two percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2011 occurred in crashes in which their vehicles rolled over. This was lower than the percentage of SUV occupant deaths (55 percent) that occurred in rollover crashes and higher than the percentage of occupant deaths in pickups (46 percent) and cars (29 percent) involving rollovers.

Occupant deaths by rollover occurrence and vehicle type, 2011

Vehicle type	No rollover		Rollover		All crashes
Vehicle type	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Large truck	267	48	286	52	553	100
SUV	1,828	45	2,254	55	4,082	100
Pickup	2,263	54	1,965	46	4,228	100
Car	9,628	76	3,051	24	12,679	100
Total*	19,084	71	7,976	29	27,060	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Sixty percent of large truck occupant deaths in 2011 occurred in single-vehicle crashes, compared with 52 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

Occupant deaths in large trucks and passenger vehicles by number of vehicles involved, 2011

Crash type	Large truck occupants		Passenger vehicle occupants
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%
Single-vehicle	334	60	11,188	52
Multiple-vehicle	219	40	10,159	48
All crashes*	553	100	21,347	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Eighteen percent of large trucks in fatal crashes in 2011 were involved in single-vehicle crashes; in contrast, 41 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, 2011

Crash type	Large trucks		Passenger vehicles
Crash type	Number	%	Number	%
Single vehicle	592	18	14,211	41
Two vehicles	2,067	64	15,528	45
> 2 vehicles	567	18	4,885	14
All crashes*	3,226	100	34,624	100
*Total includes other and/or unknowns

Forty-three percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2011 were using safety belts, compared with 45 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers. Belt use was unknown for 23 percent of fatally injured large truck drivers, compared with 7 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers.

Safety belt use among fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers, 2011

Belt use	Large truck drivers		Passenger vehicle drivers
Belt use	Number	%	Number	%
Belt used	210	43	7,024	45
Unbelted	167	34	7,336	47
Unknown belt use	115	23	1,152	7
Total	492	100	15,512	100

One quarter of passenger vehicle occupants killed in two-vehicle crashes with a large truck in 2011 were in head-on crashes with the truck. Fourteen percent involved the front of the passenger vehicle striking the rear of the large truck.

Passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2-vehicle crashes with a large truck, 2011

Large truck	Passenger vehicle								Total
	Front		Side		Rear		Other		Total
	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Front	456	25	499	27	97	5.3	82	4.5	1134	62
Side	167	9.1	26	1.4	5	<1	29	1.6	227	12
Rear	260	14	14	1	1	<1	29	1.6	304	17
Other	48	2.6	20	1.1	4	<1	105	5.7	177	9.6
Total	931	51	559	30	107	5.8	245	13	1842	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. Two percent of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2011 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, down from 17 percent in 1982. For comparison, 33 percent of fatally injured passenger vehicle drivers in 2011 had BACs at or above 0.08 percent, down from 51 percent in 1982.

Estimated percent and number of fatally injured large truck and passenger vehicle drivers with BACs ≥0.08 percent, 1982-2011

Year	Large truck drivers			Passenger vehicle drivers
	Deaths	Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08		Deaths	Estimated deaths with BACs ≥ 0.08
	Number	Number	%	Number	Number	%
1982	735	123	17	19,664	10,024	51
1983	767	115	15	19,338	9,529	49
1984	859	107	12	20,300	9,379	46
1985	775	84	11	20,058	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	20,647	7,083	34
1995	546	31	6	21,457	7,488	35
1996	525	34	6	21,631	7,336	34
1997	616	19	3	21,711	7,069	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	663	22	3	21,953	7,104	32
2006	678	30	4	21,592	7,164	33
2007	663	17	3	20,542	7,057	34
2008	534	19	4	18,266	6,280	34
2009	399	16	4	16,834	5,791	34
2010	426	17	4	16,029	5,177	32
2011	492	10	2	15,512	5,046	33

FATALITY FACTS 2011

Large trucks

Trends

Where and when large truck crashes occurred

Comparison of large truck crashes and passenger vehicle crashes

References