Causes of Large Truck Traffic Crashes

Studies Give Insight into Reasons for Traffic Fatalities & Injuries

Apr 7, 2009 Elizabeth Linehan

In 2007, 413,000 large trucks (gross vehicle weight of 10,000+ lbs) were involved in crashes in the US. In those crashes, over 4,800 people died and 101,000 were injured.

In their Large Truck Crash Causation Study (FMCSA, July 2007) the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration studied three factors of traffic crashes involving large trucks:

• Critical Event (that event that made the crash inevitable)
• Critical Reason (the failure leading to the critical event)
• Associated Factors (other factors present at the time of the crash – regardless whether or not they directly or indirectly contributed to the crash).

Both the Critical Event and Critical Reason were assigned to the vehicle/driver considered the one who made the crash unavoidable. The Associated Factors were attributed to any vehicle in the crash, regardless of their responsibility for causing it. These Associated Factors can show some of the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Just Over Half of Crashes Involving Large Trucks Attributed to CDL Drivers

For those critical events that were coded to the commercial driver (55% of all crashes involving large trucks in the FMCSA study) 32% occurred when the truck left its lane of travel, either crossing into another lane or leaving the roadway, 29% were from loss of vehicle control from cargo shift, traveling too fast for conditions, etc, and 22% collided with the rear end of another vehicle.

Of the critical reasons that went with these events, 87% pertained to the driver, either by errors in performance, decisions, or recognition of the situation. The other 13% were attributed to the vehicle (10%) and the environment (3%).

Alcohol, Drug Use and Fatigue Much Higher for Non-commercial Drivers

While some may assume that commercial driver impairment from alcohol, prescription or over-the-counter drug use, illegal drug use or driver fatigue may be a major associated factor, quite the opposite was found. In fact, according to the FMCSA study, the drivers of non-commercial vehicles were twice as likely to be driving drowsy, and a staggering five times more likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (legal or not). In fact, the NHTSA report found only 1% of large truck drivers in fatality or injury crashes in 2007 had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or more, while 23 – 27% of non-commercial vehicle drivers in those crashes had the same. And 15% of private drivers had a record of previous drivers license suspension, as opposed to 8% of commercial drivers.

Drivers of passenger cars, light trucks and motorcycles may have behavioral tendencies that contribute to more hazardous driving, but any traffic crash can be devastating. When 80,000 lbs. of truck meets a 3,500 lb. sedan, the consequences are too often tragic. Finding the causes of these crashes is the first step in finding ways to let everyone travel more safely.

The copyright of the article Causes of Large Truck Traffic Crashes in Health Field is owned by Elizabeth Linehan. Permission to republish Causes of Large Truck Traffic Crashes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Driving at Risk

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