The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has just released its latest study, 2010 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview.
You can read the NHTSA report online for free here.
It’s got some important news – something we all need to know – because according to the NHTSA, it’s getting more dangerous to be driving on the American roadways alongside large commercial trucks (i.e., big rigs, semis, tractor trailer trucks, etc.) For our part of the country, with the tremendous amount of commercial trade rolling along our interstates and state highways, this is especially concerning.
NHTSA Is Not Focusing On This Increasing Danger
In releasing these results as part of its report, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood chose to focus upon an overall decline in highway deaths across the country, to the lowest levels since 1949. Which is, of course, important and encouraging.
“While we have more work to do to continue to protect American motorists, these numbers show we’re making historic progress when it comes to improving safety on our nation’s roadways,” said Secretary LaHood. “Thanks to the tireless work of our safety agencies and partner organizations over the past few decades, to save lives and reduce injuries, we’re saving lives, reducing injuries, and building the foundation for what we hope will be even greater success in the future.”
However, what is also true is that the new report reveals that fatalities rose among pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and large truck occupants. As shown in the report’s chart below, there’s been an increase in deaths for truck drivers as well as occupants of the other vehicles involved in these serious trucking industry crashes.
As Hours of Service challenges progress in Washington, news like this is extremely important for us all to know and recognize: big rig, semi truck accidents are all too often deadly.
