The number of people killed in crashes involving large trucks increased 1.9% in 2011 compared with 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report released Monday.
NHTSA’s definition of large trucks includes anything weighing more than 10,000 pounds. The number of fatalities in truck-involved crashes rose by 71 — from 3,686 in 2010 to 3,757 in 2011.
NHTSA said, however, that the 1.9% increase “disguises” much larger increases in other categories related to truck-involved crashes. For instance, 20% more occupants of large trucks died in crashes in 2011 than in 2010 — 635 versus 530.
Likewise, between 2010 and 2011, the number of fatalities that occurred when the truck was the only vehicle involved in a crash rose 19% — from 339 to 403. And the number of fatalities when there were two or more vehicles involved in a truck crash rose 21% — from 191 to 232.
“It’s important that we don’t rush to conclusions about these numbers because they’re raw data,” said American Trucking Associations spokesman Sean McNally. “We don’t have the mileage figures [yet] so it’s important to put them in context.”
The crash rate for trucks, which is not expected to be released by DOT until next year, cannot be calculated until the Federal Highway Administration totals the number of miles trucks ran last year.
McNally also said that in terms of crash data the overall long term trend for trucking is positive. “Even with this increase and the slight increase last year trucking is experiencing its safest three-year record since NHTSA began keeping records in 1975.”
McNally said several states are raising their speed limits and that may affect crash rates, and that ATA is on record as in favor of a 65 mph speed limit for all vehicles.
He added that approximately 15% of truck-involved crashes were vehicles between 10,000 and 26,000 pounds in gross vehicle weight.
Overall traffic deaths fell to their lowest level since 1949, declining 1.9% from 2010, according to NHTSA figures. A total of 32,367 people — motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians — died in 2011, the agency said.
