Statistics

Following are statistics about traffic accidents involving tractor-trailer trucks in the year 2000:

• June had the most number of fatal involvements, with 509, while April had the least, with 388.
• An estimated two-thirds of fatal accidents occurred in rural areas.
• About two-thirds of fatal accidents occurred in daylight.
• 81.8% of fatal accidents occurred on dry roads.
• 84.9% of fatal accidents happened in regular (dry) weather conditions.
• 28.8% of fatal accidents occurred on state highways, 26.3% on U.S. highways, and 25.4% on interstate highways.
• In 10.4% of fatal accidents, the other vehicle crossed the centerline of the road and struck the truck head on.
• 2.2% of truck drivers involved in a fatal traffic accident had been drinking.
• Drug use was reported in 0.6% of truck drivers in a fatal crash.
• 96.4% of truck drivers involved in a fatal accident were male.
• 713 truck drivers were fatally injured in a traffic accident.
• 2.1% of truck drivers involved in a fatal accident were recorded as drowsy or asleep.
• 71.8% of tractor combinations weighed between 25,001 and 80,000 pounds.
• 68.8% of tractor combinations were operated by for-hire; interstate carriers with 15.1% of tractor-trailers operated by private, interstate carriers.
• 19.0% of tractor combinations were on a local trip (within 50 miles of base) at the time of the accident; 19.8% were on a trip over 500 miles.
• 88.6% of tractor configurations consisted of a three-axle tractor pulling a two-axle trailer.
• 62.3% of doubles (two trailers) consisted of a two-axle tractor with a one-axle first trailer and a two-axle second trailer.