U.S. fatal crash rate for trucks reaches all-time low
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The fatal accident rate for large trucks in the U.S. has fallen to its lowest number in 30 years, the American Trucking Associations (ATA) has reported.
The figures were based on 2004 crash statistics from the Federal Highway Administration. Vehicle mileage figures were used to determine the crash rate.
The latest figures peg the fatal crash rate at 1.96 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle-miles travelled. It’s the lowest fatal crash rate since the stat was first tracked back in 1975, the ATA says.
It’s a remarkable stat, the association says, considering there is a substantial increase in the number of vehicles on the road today. In fact, there were nearly 6.3 million more registered cars and trucks on the road in the U.S. in 2004 than in 2003.
“The numbers show a dramatic and continuing improvement in U.S. highway safety within the trucking industry and among our professional drivers,” ATA CEO, Bill Graves said. “Motor carrier commitment to safety is making a difference for everyone.”
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