Passenger vehicles cause most of the accidents between cars and large trucks.

A loud, smoke-belching, ground-shaking semi relentlessly pursues a lone motorist through the deserts of the Southwest. No matter what the frantic motorist does, he cannot shake the pursuing behemoth, which seemingly will not rest until the motorist is crushed beneath its wheels.

Is there any truth in this image? Are a disproportionate number of big trucks involved in traffic accidents and fatalities?

In the studies and statistics that follow, you will note two types of data: One is raw numbers – this many accidents, this many deaths, this many trucks and so forth. Another is raw numbers tempered with miles traveled.

The trucking industry prefers to look at the miles-traveled statistics to determine the fatality rate involving commercial vehicles and to illustrate that drivers are less prone to deadly accidents than in the past. Critics of the industry, on the other hand, like to use the raw numbers on truck-related road deaths as their benchmark to show things are not as rosy as the industry claims.

Which data should we give more weight to?

Laurie Baulig, senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs at American Trucking Associations, puts it this way: “It’s important to look at raw numbers, but it’s important to look at trends, and the trends are headed in the right direction.”

Are they?

In the years 1987 through 1995, fatal crashes between heavy trucks and passenger vehicles fluctuated between a low of 2,906 and a high of 3,514. Statistically speaking, the numbers remained flat. However, when we take into consideration the fact that during this same seven-year period, trucking mileage increased by more than 43 percent, then we can say that the fatal accident rate during this period fell by 33 percent.

The decline is even more dramatic if we look at the period between 1975 and 1997.

In 1975, 4,483 people died and the fatality rate was 4.6 deaths for each 100 million vehicle-miles traveled. By 1997, the rate had plummeted to 2.4 for each 100 million vehicle-miles (a 43 percent decrease).

In 1997, the more than 7 million registered large trucks in this country accounted for 3.7 percent of the vehicles involved in traffic accidents. Passenger cars accounted for 66.5 percent and light trucks for 28.7 percent.

The high rate attributed to passenger cars is substantiated by other sources. According to police reports, in 68 percent of fatal accidents between cars and large trucks, the responsibility for the accident was placed with the driver of the automobile.

The results of a Federal Highway Administration study also indicated that passenger vehicles contribute heavily to fatal truck crashes. In this study, four types of crashes were examined: head-on, rear end, opposite direction sideswipe and same direction sideswipe.

In 89 percent of fatal head-on passenger vehicle/truck crashes, the passenger vehicle crossed the centerline into the truck’s lane, while in 11 percent of these crashes the truck encroached into the passenger vehicle’s lane.

In 80 percent of rear-end crashes, the passenger vehicle was the striking vehicle.

In 88 percent of opposite direction sideswipe accidents, the passenger vehicle was the striking vehicle.

In 72 percent of same direction sideswipes, the passenger vehicle was the striking vehicle.

In 71 percent of crashes, the police assigned one or more crash factors to the passenger vehicle driver and none to the truck driver.

The study concludes: “Focusing, in part, on the behavior of passenger vehicle drivers, who contribute more frequently to fatal truck crashes, would enhance FHWA’s ability to develop effective countermeasures and prevent future crashes.”

Learning how to safely share the road with the big trucks is one such effective countermeasure.

Most truck drivers are very aware of the vehicles around them, and since they too are passenger vehicle drivers when off duty, they have a good idea of the capabilities and limitations of the “four-wheelers.”

However, how much does the average passenger vehicle driver know of the capabilities and limitations of the semi? How aware is he or she? Next time, we will examine a few of the important points to consider when sharing the road with the big trucks.

Until then, I would like to share the following:

In the interest of improving highway safety, the U.S. Department of Transportation introduced a toll-free number for truck drivers and others to report alleged safety violations or unsafe practices by trucking companies or drivers. The hot line, (888) DOT-SAFT, or (888) 368-7238, is designed to encourage truck drivers to report violations without fear of losing their jobs. Others, including passenger vehicle drivers, are also encouraged to use the hot line.

Guy Bourrie has been hauling on the highways for 20 years. He lives in Washington, Maine, and can be reached at [email protected].