WASHINGTON —A recent report by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) shows an encouraging drop in the number of large truck crashes, fatalities and injuries.

• Of the 33,308 people killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2009, 10 percent died in crashes that involved trucks.

• The number of large trucks involved in fatal crashes from 2007 to 2009 dropped from 4,633 to 3,215, a 31 percent decrease.

• The number of trucks in fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled also declined from 2007 to 2009, showing a 26 percent drop. Passenger vehicle crashes are getting better, too, showing a 17 percent drop during the same period.

• Only 2 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes were legally intoxicated, compared with 23 percent of passenger driver vehicles.

• Eighty-two percent of truck drivers in fatal accidents were wearing their seatbelts.

• The top two driver-related factors for trucks in fatal crashes were driving too fast (7 percent for trucks and 19 percent for passenger vehicles) and failure to keep in proper lane ( 6 percent for trucks and 18 percent for passenger vehicles). The third most common reason for truck drivers was not paying attention, and, for vehicle passengers, being under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.

• In 75 percent of fatal crashes, the first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle.

• In two-vehicle fatal rear-end crashes, passenger vehicles hit large trucks in the rear four times more often than large trucks struck passenger vehicles in the rear — 17 percent versus truckers’ 4 percent.

Keep up the safe driving!

You can download the full report here.