Most people are aware that trucking accidents are a serious problem in our country, but many don’t realize just how dangerous they are to Americans on the road. Weighing up to 80,000 pounds and often carrying extremely hazardous cargo, semi-trucks are involved in thousands of fatal crashes every year, devastating families and changing the lives of countless people forever.
With billions of dollars in annual revenue, the trucking industry continues to grow at a tremendous pace, and its workforce is rising accordingly. This is concerning news for those of us driving ordinary cars and trucks, as we are at increasing risk as the number of big trucks on the road gets larger and larger.
The graphic below was designed to demonstrate the horrible consequences of truck crashes in the U.S. We also wanted to illustrate trends that could be useful for understanding exactly how and where these wrecks are more likely to occur.
The Statistics
In 2013, large trucks were involved in:
- 3,906 fatal crashes
- 73,000 crashes causing injuries
- 265,000 crashes causing property damage
Leading causes of semi-truck accidents in the U.S.:
- 26% caused by prescription drug use
- 23% caused by traveling too fast
- 17% caused by over-the-counter drugs
- 13% caused by fatigue
- 8% caused by alcohol
- 3% caused by illegal drug use
In 2013, multiple vehicle crashes resulted in injuries to:
- 52,000 motor vehicle drivers
- 7,000 large truck drivers
- 4,000 truck passengers
Did You Know?
- 84% of fatal truck accidents occur on weekdays
- 64% of fatal truck crashes occurred on rural roads
- Just 5% of fatal truck crashes occurred on interstate highways
Read more about Atlanta trucking accident statistics in the infographic below and feel free to share it with others.