A new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration revealed the latest numbers from 2012 on the number of trucking deaths due to crashes…and they don’t look good. Fatalities from accidents rose 3.7% in 2012, with 3,921 deaths being reported compared to 3,781 deaths in 2011. Unfortunately, 2012 marked the third year in a row that trucking deaths have increased since an industry-low 3,380 deaths in 2009.
Although some caution should be put towards these numbers (the report lumps commercial vehicles ranging from Classes 3-8 together, meaning vehicles that aren’t tractor-trailers were included in the study), it is no less alarming that the number continues to rise. The NHTSA has said that is working on improving safety in trucking through new technology – including proposed rules to make electronic stability control and collision-warning systems mandatory. One FMCSA official said, “FMCSA will continue driving towards zero deaths by implementing common-sense initiatives like the updated hours-of-service rules to reduce driver fatigue — a leading factor in large-truck crashes — and educating the public about how to share the road safely with commercial trucks and buses.”
Initial reports for the first six months of 2013 show a decreased accident rate for all vehicles compared to this time last year, but specific data related to trucking has not yet been released. It should be noted that these numbers are still a far cry away from the 5,000+ numbers a year experienced in the 1990’s. But what we need now is diligence to improve the numbers further. The hours-of-service rules help in avoiding driver fatigue, but other measures must be put in place to take care of other causes.
Drinking and drugs are still a big problem in the industry, and currently only drivers are required to wear seat belts – for passengers, seat belts are only optional. Through a combination of efforts, we hope to once again see these terrible trucking deaths become a thing of the past.
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