Progress In Truck Safety: Something Is Working
Doug Condra
President
The government's report on 2002 traffic fatalities has some good news. Deaths in crashes involving large trucks declined — for the fifth straight year — to 4,897. That's down from 2001, when truck-involved crashes killed 5,111.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report says truck-related deaths have come down nearly 10% over the past five years, to their lowest total since 1995.
That accomplishment — by trucking company managers, their drivers, owner-operators and yes, law enforcement and government agencies — is remarkable. And it comes at a time when the U.S. heavy truck population is higher than at any period in history.
It's especially remarkable considering that the death toll from crashes involving all types of vehicles, from motorcycles and cars on up, is rising. Those wrecks took 42,815 lives in 2002 — a fifth straight year of increase, and the worst since 1990.
Alcohol-related deaths, motorcycle fatalities and young driver deaths all rose in the overall toll. Yet trucking continues to be lambasted by some safety groups and in the press.
To put things into perspective, safety advocates, reporters and politicians might consider these facts from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:
• More than 70% of fatal car-truck crashes begin with an error by the car driver.
• Despite the perpetual outcry blaming fatigued truckers, only 1.4% of fatal large truck crashes in 2001 were attributed to truck driver drowsiness/fatigue. It ranked 11th on the most frequent driver-related factors in those incidents.
• Speeding was the No. 1 factor. It was involved in 7.8% of truck-involved fatal crashes.
• Running off the road (6.3%) was the No. 2 contributor, followed by failure to stay in lane, inattention, failure to yield right of way, disregard of traffic signs, erratic or reckless driving and following improperly.
• Trucking has persistently bettered its safety record while delivering something like 87% of the nation's freight and running some 450 billion miles a year.
American Trucking Assns. President Bill Graves has written Congress with a similar message, along with a pledge that the industry will continue to strive for improvement.
There's no question that stepped-up roadside inspections and traffic enforcement have had an effect in trucking's safety progress. Credit FMCSA, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and state and local law enforcement for that.
Fleet managers, safety directors and the people behind the wheel deserve credit, too. The statistics prove that cooperative government-industry efforts are working.
There are still far too many fatalities, and this battle will never end. But you are definitely on the right track. Congratulations.
