As Truck Traffic Soars, Safety Improves

Since 2000, the number of registered trucks on the road has increased by well over 1 million, yet federal statistics indicate that truck-involved crashes are at an all-time low. These industry-wide safety gains have caught the attention of state law officials.

"We definitely have more trucks on the highway now than when I started out in 1994 on patrol," said Sgt. John Price with the South Carolina State Transport. "But the number of accidents involving tractor-trailers is down compared to 10 years ago."

Price attributes the continued improvement in truck safety to the ongoing education and training provided to truck drivers by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the South Carolina Trucking Assocation. He said professional truck drivers are held to a higher standard than the average motorist. "Any time there is an accident, commercial drivers are checked for their safety history, the hours of service and whether they're driving compliant vehicles and carrying safe loads."

While truck-involved crashes are on the decline, Price said that the majority of truck-involved accidents are caused by the passenger vehicle, not the commercial vehicle driver. "What we're seeing is that, in a lot of commercial vehicle versus passenger vehicle accidents, the majority are caused by the passenger vehicle driver, not the commercial vehicle driver."

"Passenger vehicle drivers need to understand that a big, lumbering truck can't stop as fast, has a lot more blind spots, and can't get out of the way as fast as a smaller vehicle," said Price. "Drivers need to respect the sheer size and weight of an average commercial truck and give them the distance they need."

Common contributing factors in passenger-caused crashes with trucks include driving too fast for conditions, tailgating and improper lane changes, Price said. Driver distraction, caused by text messaging or the use of electronic hand-held devices while driving is also a growing safety concern.

Driver behavior is the No. 1 cause of vehicle crashes. To improve driver performance, ATA's progressive safety agenda includes policies supporting:

    * Uniform commercial drivers license testing standards;
    * Additional parking facilities for trucks;
    * Governing large truck speeds at 65 mph or less;
    * A national maximum 65 mph speed limit for all vehicles;
    * Strategies to increase the use of seat belts;
    * A national car-truck driver behavior improvement program;
    * Increased use of red light cameras and automated speed enforcement;
    * Graduated licensing standards in all states for non-commercial teen drivers; and
    * More stringent laws to reduce drinking and driving.

To view ATA's entire safety agenda, visit www.truckline.com/safety.