Truck-Related Fatalities Declined Last Year, DOT Says

U.S. road fatalities and truck-related fatalities both declined last year, the Department of Transportation said Thursday.

The number of people killed in heavy-duty truck-related crashes fell 4.4% to 4,808, from 5,027 in 2006, DOT said.

Overall traffic fatalities fell to 41,059, the lowest number since 1994, and the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.37, the lowest fatality rate on record, DOT said.

The 2.49 million people who were injured in highway crashes last year was the lowest since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting injury data in 1988.

DOT said motorcycle fatalities now account for 13% of all fatalities and that the number of motorcycle riders or passengers killed on the nation’s roads increased 6.6% over the previous year.

Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said DOT will continue its efforts to combat impaired driving, increase safety belt use and improve motorcycle safety.