FMCSA releases data on large truck, bus crashes

Washington – The number of deadly crashes involving large trucks and buses has fallen even as the number of vehicle miles traveled increased, according to a report released April 15 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

In 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, the number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes decreased 5 percent – to 3,744 from 3,921 in 2013 – while the number of buses involved in fatal crashes fell 17 percent, to 234 from 282.

However, large truck-related crashes that resulted in injuries increased 21 percent. And work zones were a problem area: 30 percent of fatal crashes and 9 percent of injury crashes that occurred in work zones involved at least one large truck.

Other notable findings from the report:

• Vehicle miles traveled by large trucks and buses in 2014 increased 1.5 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.
• Eighty-four percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks and buses occurred on weekdays, with 37 percent taking place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.
• Approximately 61 percent of fatal crashes involving large trucks occurred on rural roads, and 26 percent took place on rural or urban interstate highways.