Working in the trucking industry is one of the most dangerous lines of work in our part of the country. In fact, according to the latest findings of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (“BLS”), driving a commercial truck was the deadliest job to have in the State of Illinois as well as the rest of the United States. For details, read What Is The Most Dangerous Job in Indiana and Illinois?
Indiana saw 153 fatal large truck and bus crashes with Illinois reporting an even more concerning 204 fatal accidents in 2022, according to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Administration.
68% Jump in Trucker Fatalities Caused by Semi-Truck Crashes
This month, the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (“IIHS”) published its latest “Fatality Facts” report using data provided in the Fatality Analysis Reporting System of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
While recognizing that the majority of fatalities in large truck crashes involve the occupants of the smaller motor vehicles that collide with the larger semi-truck, big rig, tractor-trailer, or 18-wheeler, there is also a serious and disturbing trend in the number of commercial truck drivers, and occupants of their rigs, who are perishing in vehicular accidents.
- There was a 17% increase in truck crash fatalities in one year’s time (2021 compared with 2020).
- The number of truck crash deaths was 50% higher in 2021 than in 2009, the lowest fatal crash figure since these statistics began being collected by the BLS.
- Of the latest year’s truck crash deaths, 16% were truck occupants.
- Truck occupant deaths were 68% higher in the last reporting year than they were in 2009.
- Most truck occupant deaths (52%) involved a rollover accident.
- Half (49%) of fatally injured large truck drivers in 2021 were confirmed to be using seat belts at the time of impact.
- Large truck drivers killed in fatal truck crashes are not driving under the influence of alcohol in almost every case, with only five percent (5%) of fatally injured large truck drivers reported to have blood alcohol counts at or above 0.08 percent in 2021.
The fatality rate for truck occupants has jumped almost 70% in the past fourteen years.
1. Most Truckers and Truck Occupants Died in Crashes Involving a Tractor-Trailer
Of these accidents, the most dangerous rig was a tractor-trailer. The data reveals that almost three-quarters (74%) of all the large truck crashes in 2021 involved tractor-trailer trucks.
Sometimes, these truck accidents involved more than one large truck. The report found that 63% of the large truck occupants who perished in the crash were in an accident between two large trucks.
2. Most Hazardous Roadways for Truckers: Major Roads Other than Interstates
Surprisingly, the most dangerous route for a commercial truck driver is not an interstate or freeway, although 36% of large truck fatalities happen there. Statistics warn us that almost half (48%) of all large truck crashes happen on “major roads other than interstates and freeways.”
3. Deadliest Time of Day for Truck Drivers
For commercial trucks, standard workday hours between six o’clock in the morning (6 AM) and three o’clock in the afternoon (3 PM) prove to the deadliest with half (50%) of all large truck crashes happening in this time window. Most happen during the workweek, with only 16% of fatal truck crashes happening on Saturday and Sunday.
With these disturbing findings, safety agencies and those advocating for worker-victims and their loved ones are anxious to find the causes for preventable accidents where truck drivers and occupants of commercial trucks on the job are dying in a serious truck crash. Two of the known contributing factors: fatigue and speeding.
Trucking Dangers: Fatigue
According to the new Fatality Facts report, fatigue is one “known crash risk.” There are the federally mandated hours-of-service regulations (“HOS Rules”), where truckers can drive a maximum of eleven (11) hours at a stretch. These HOS Rules are designed to combat driver fatigue by providing rest breaks.
For more on HOS Rules, read our earlier discussions in Drowsy Driving, HOS, Stopped Truck Crashes: Will 2022 Truck Parking Safety Improvement Act Be Passed? and Truckers Can Use Exception to HOS Rules If Threatened with Violent Crime.
Having to drive long periods of time on what may be monotonous roadways contributes to trucker fatigue as they meet delivery deadlines. This alone is tiring work. However, there are other things that may cause fatigue in a truck driver, as well, including the effort necessary in loading or unloading cargo. Truck drivers may not have the optimal nutrition on the job, either. Some easy-to-grab snacks at the truck stop may be filled with sugar and processed oils that help to make the human body drowsy after consumption.
For more on driver fatigue, read: Commercial Truck Safety and Truck Driver Fatigue: Fatal Truck Crashes, ELDs, and HOS Rules and Truck Driver Fatigue: Battle Continues Over Tracking Truckers with Electronic Log Devices (ELDs).
Of note, recent studies are warning that the electronic logging required for commercial truck drivers since 2017 to keep them within the HOS Rules apparently has not significantly changed the realities of serious or fatal truck accidents in this country. Read, “Electronic tracking has been required on semi-trucks for 5 years. Fatalities haven’t decreased,” written by Bianca Giacobone and published by Business Insider on February 1, 2023.
In fact, according to the Business Insider article, the fatal work injury rate jumped from 23.6% to 28.8% (comparing pre-ELD Rule 2013 to post-ELD Rule 2021) and safety experts are now suggesting that not only are these logging devices not making truck drivers (and others) safer on our roadways, they may even be “making trucking less safe.”
For more on ELDs, read: Exhausted Truck Drivers: Who Can Discover ELD and HOS Fraud to Enforce Federal Safety Laws? and Automatic Recording of Truckers’ Hours on the Road: Why Some Are Against the ELD Rule.
Trucking Dangers: Speeding
Another known risk facing truckers behind the wheel of a semi-truck, tractor trailer, 18-wheeler, or big rig is the moving rate of speed of all vehicles at the time of the accident. Truck drivers in Indiana and Illinois are usually paid not on a set hourly rate but instead by the number of miles they drive their rig in order to complete transport of their cargo or load. Covering those miles means paying the bills.
It is easy to assume that truckers are tempted to exceed speed limits in order to get to their destination on time. However, speed as a factor in a deadly trucking crash is more complicated.
A high speed on the road for a big truck will contribute to a fatal accident, of course. However, it is not simply an issue of enforcing existing speed limits, or of lowering speed limits for commercial vehicles.
Some trucking advocates argue that lower speed limits for commercial trucks, in comparison to surrounding, smaller vehicles, can make things more dangerous for everyone on the road. This is called the “increased speed differential” factor.
In fact, Hoosier lawmakers passed a bill (SB 13) to allow large trucks to drive at 70 MPH on our highways, just like the smaller passenger vehicles with which they share the road. Read, “Senate passes bill to allow trucks to speed up like cars to 70 miles per hour on highways,” written by Adam Yahya Rayes and published by WFYI on February 20, 2023.
Not only do the bill’s proponents include a former truck driver turned State Senator, but the WFYI piece also discusses scholarly studies that support replacing the increased speed differential with uniform speed limits on roadways.
Fatal Truck Crashes in Indiana and Illinois
When a truck driver is seriously injured or killed on the job here in Illinois or Indiana, that worker-victim and family members may have legal remedies to consider in the aftermath of the truck crash. Not only will there be workers’ compensation claims to be filed, where fault is not the issue, but an independent investigation into the crash may reveal third parties who have legal liability under state or federal laws for what has happened.
Fingers are often pointed first at any commercial truck drivers involved in a serious crash. It is true that large trucks are heavy machines where almost any collision may prove serious or fatal for one or more of the people involved. Insurance adjusters and defense counsel will be ready to argue the cause of the truck crash as driver fatigue or speeding in excess of the legal limit, as well as other factors like driving under the influence or driving distracted.
Independent analysis of the large truck crash, as the recent statistics reveal, often find that the truck driver will not prove to have an improper blood alcohol count, and that ELD compliance did not block the event. Investigations, particularly by accident reconstruction experts, may reveal causes that include things like (1) drivers being forced to continue operating in bad weather conditions; (2) drivers operating trucks with flawed parts, or defective repair or maintenance; and (3) other drivers or roadside hazards that caused the crash, particularly in a rollover accident.
For more, read:
- Semi-Truck Crashes: Why Tractor-Trailer Trucks Are So Dangerous
- Semi-Truck Crashes: Who Can Be Held Legally Responsible for Commercial Trucking Accidents in Indiana and Illinois?
- Dangerous Truck Parking Crisis: Truckers Demand Federal Action.
Truck drivers are so important to all of our lives, and they deserve recognition, respect, and protection as they do their jobs. Sadly, their work is becoming more and more dangerous and deadly here in Indiana and Illinois. Please be careful out there!
