The worth of the U.S. trucking industry today totals billions annually. With this as a factor, statistics reveal a number of trends regarding trucking accidents. Although much of the vehicle road accidents showed decreasing figures, truck accidents, on the other hand, increased. Roads are more congested with traffic, as you have probably witnessed while driving the Texas highways. There are more trucks on the roads these days as well.
Trucking accident statistics show some unsettling trends, such as that 4% of the trucks that had fatal collisions carried hazardous materials. Fatalities from truck crashes increased more than 50% since 2009. Here are other trends that studies show are relevant to accidents involving trucks.
There are 37.9 million registered trucks
The trucking industry today is worth more than $700 billion annually. Employing more than 8 million people, the trucking industry has over 3.5 million truck drivers.
The nation’s trucks cover an excess of 300 billion miles
With so much mileage, there is also speeding. Speeding, by itself, causes 14% of light-truck fatalities and 7% of large-truck fatalities.
Speeding, distraction and impairment are the most common factors
More than 130,000 people are injured every year in truck accidents, and many of the injuries are fatal. The most common type of truck collision is head-on.
Interstate highways account for a quarter of fatal truck crashes, and three-quarters of big rig accidents occur on weekdays. Trucks may be a hurry to reach their destination. They deliver everything from paper to machines to groceries.
Accidents with trucks, from small to large, may happen every day. Statistics show that these are more common, as roads become more congested, with more trucks on the road in 2022.