Fatal Crash Rate Continues Decline

The fatal crash rate for large trucks fell slightly to 2.39 per million miles in 1997, down from 2.41 the year before, according to newly released statistics from the Federal Highway Administration.

There were was an increase in fatal truck-involved crashes in 1997 — 4, 572 last year, compared with 4,413 in 1996. The number of fatalities in those crashes was 5, 355 in 1997, up from 5,142 in 1996.

At the same time, the total number of miles traveled by large trucks rose to 191.35 billion in 1997 from 182.97 billion in 1996.

The industry uses the "fatal crash rate" as the chief indicator of its safety performance. That rate is the number of fatal crashes per 100 million miles of truck travel, which is considered to reflect trucking's "exposure" on the highway.

Large truck involvement in fatal accidents also was down — 2.55 incidents per million miles in 1997 compared with a rate of 2.60 in 1996.

Between 1987 and 1997, the fatal crash rate for large trucks has dropped 31%, while the total number of miles that trucks have driven has increased 41%, according to FHWA.

American Trucking Associations President Walter B. McCormick Jr. said the statistics are proof "that trucking's commitment to safety and constant improvement is paying off."

He credited the nation's nearly 3 million truck drivers for the reduction in the fatal crash rate.

Mr. McCormick said the latest government data debunks recent claims by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) that trucking is growing more dangerous.