Fatalities in crashes involving at least one large truck showed relatively no change last year, decreasing from 5,006 in 2018 to 5,005 in 2019, according to data released Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Total highway fatalities fell by 2%, from 36,835 in 2018 to 36,096 in 2019. “This is the third consecutive year in which traffic fatalities have declined after reaching a recent high of 37,806 in 2016,” according to NHTSA.
Traffic fatalities by crash characteristic. (Source: NHTSA)
The agency also reported that large-truck occupant fatalities increased 0.2%, from 890 in 2018 to 892 in 2019. That compares to a 0.8% increase between 2017 and 2019.
NHTSA’s 2019 summary data further revealed:
Fatalities decreased in 35 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico from 2018.
States with the largest reduction of fatalities: California (-192) and Pennsylvania (-131).
States with the largest percentage reduction: New Hampshire (-31.3%) and Vermont (-30.9%).
Fatalities increased in 15 states from 2018.
States with the largest increase of fatalities: Tennessee (95) and Ohio (85).
States with the largest percentage increase: Wyoming (32.4%) and Delaware (18.9%).
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Based in Washington, D.C., John specializes in regulation and legislation affecting all sectors of freight transportation. He has covered rail, trucking and maritime issues since 1993 for a variety of publications based in the U.S. and the U.K. John began business reporting in 1993 at Broadcasting & Cable Magazine. He graduated from Florida State University majoring in English and business.
