The Surprising New Data Explaining Truck Crash Causes
When a large truck crash kills or seriously injures someone, the consequences can be devastating. And when crashes happen, there is often a rush to explain why. But are we focusing on the factors that the data actually identifies as contributing to these crashes? A recent article in Freight Waves did a deeper dive.
The author cited NHTSA data, sharing that 5,742 people died in large truck crashes in 2023. Of those, 3,837 – or about 70 percent – were people outside the truck, including occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. Those numbers make understanding the causes of large truck crashes critically important.
What the Data Says About Alcohol
One commonly discussed cause of traffic crashes is drunk driving. But alcohol does not appear to be a leading factor in fatal large truck crashes. In 2023, about 4 percent of fatal large truck crashes involved a truck driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. That was the lowest percentage among the major vehicle categories. By comparison, the figure was approximately 24 percent for passenger car drivers, 20 percent for light truck drivers and 26 percent for motorcycle drivers.
That doesn't mean alcohol is never a factor in truck crashes. It means that, based on the available data, it is not the primary explanation for most fatal large truck crashes.
Driver Behavior Matters
The data points much more strongly toward driver behavior. Driver recognition errors –including inattention, distraction and inadequate observation – can contribute to crashes. So can decision-making errors, such as driving too fast for conditions, misjudging another vehicle's speed or following too closely. Performance errors, including overcorrecting or losing control of the vehicle, can also play a role. Among the behavioral factors identified in the data, speeding, fatigue and distraction stand out as significant concerns.
The records also show that large truck drivers had relatively high rates of prior crashes and speeding convictions. About 19.4 percent had a previous traffic crash, while 17.3 percent had a prior speeding conviction. At the same time, large truck drivers had the lowest rate among the vehicle categories examined for previous license suspensions or revocations, at about 6.4 percent.
Those numbers raise an important question: Are we doing enough to identify and address dangerous driving patterns before they result in a serious or fatal crash?
Truck Maintenance Is Another Piece of the Puzzle
Driver behavior isn't the only issue. Mechanical problems can also make a truck more dangerous. Among mechanical violations identified in the data, brake problems were a leading concern.
In fact, approximately one in three trucks examined had mechanical problems significant enough that the vehicle should not have remained on the road. That points to another important safety question: Are trucks being properly maintained and inspected before they share the highway with millions of other vehicles?
What About Foreign-Born Truck Drivers?
The issue of immigrant and foreign-born truck drivers has received considerable attention in political debates and on social media. Some have suggested that drivers who obtained their commercial driver's licenses through processes other than the standard domestic CDL system are disproportionately responsible for fatal crashes. But the available federal crash data does not establish that conclusion.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not routinely track fatal crash data based on a driver's citizenship or whether the driver is foreign- or U.S.-born. That makes it difficult to draw a reliable connection between immigration status and truck crash fatalities.
Focus on What We Can Actually Fix
None of this diminishes the devastation experienced by families after a truck crash. The injuries suffered by victims are real, and when a crash could have been prevented, the consequences are particularly difficult to accept. The question is how we prevent the next crash.
If the data identifies speed, fatigue, distraction, driver decision-making and inadequate vehicle maintenance as important safety concerns, those are areas worth addressing. That means looking at whether drivers are properly trained and supervised, whether dangerous driving histories are being addressed, whether drivers are getting adequate rest, and whether trucks are being properly inspected and maintained.
Were You or a Loved One Injured in a Truck Crash?
Large truck crashes can cause catastrophic injuries and, in the worst cases, death. If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a trucking accident in Pennsylvania, it is important to understand what caused the crash and whether negligence played a role. It may help to speak with a top Philadelphia attorney for trucking accident cases.
Contact us to set a time to meet, so that we can help you better understand your legal options and make an informed decision as to the next steps to take.