| Large
Trucks Contribute to Traffic Fatalities
According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA),
in 2000, 11% (4,719) of all motor vehicle traffic fatalities
reported involved heavy trucks with gross weight greater than
26,000 pounds.
One percent of traffic fatalities involved medium trucks
with gross weight between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds. 79% of
the large trucks involved in fatal traffic accidents in 2000
collided with another motor vehicle.
Large trucks were involved in 261 multiple vehicle crashes
which resulted in a fatality and 480 single car crashes which
involved a fatality. 410 Pedestrians and pedalcyclists were
killed in accidents involving large trucks. The majority of
the fatalities suffered in accidents with large trucks involved
occupants of the other vehicles with which those trucks collided.
NHTSA reported that in the year 2000, one out of nine traffic
fatalities resulted from a collision with a large truck. 4%
of all vehicles involved in injury and property damage only
crashes involved large trucks in the year 2000.
Alcohol does not appear to play a prominent role with respect
to large truck/auto accidents. NHTSA data found that only
1% of the drivers of large trucks involved in fatal crashes
in 2000 were intoxicated as compared with 19% for passenger
cars, 20% for light trucks and 27% for motorcycles.
Of the fatalities that resulted from crashes with large trucks
with a gross weight rating over 10,000 pounds, 78% were the
occupants of the other vehicle, 8% were non occupants and
14% were the occupants of the large truck involved in the
accident.
|
