Home » CDL Guides & Resources » Large Truck & Bus Accident Statistics

Large Truck & Bus Accident Statistics

ATTENTION!

The CDL test is hard. Set yourself up for success!

Order a CDL Cheat Sheet to help you pass.

  • Over 97% pass rate!
  • 100% money back guarantee if you don't pass.
  • Study on your computer, phone, or tablet anywhere, anytime.

Given their size and weight, accidents involving large trucks and busses can be more dangerous and cause significantly more damage than accidents involving two passenger vehicles. 

Large vehicles like trucks and busses take longer to stop, longer to accelerate, need more room to move and turn, and have much larger blind spots. All of these can increase the severity and chances of an accident if things go wrong.

Accidents Involving Large Trucks & Busses

On average there are about 440,500 accidents each year on U.S. roadways involving large trucks or busses. Of those accidents:

  • 344,381 result in property damage.
  • 91,905 result in injuries.
  • 4,280 result in death.

96% of deaths in accidents involving trucks or large busses are the occupants of passenger vehicles. 

The majority of fatal truck accidents (over 70%) involve tractor-trailer trucks.

The most common places for fatal truck crashes to happen are on interstates and freeways and major roads. 

Most fatal truck crashes happen during daylight hours (6 am – 3 pm), with a slightly higher percentage of fatal crashes occurring on the weekend.

Truck Accident Statistic: 1997 – 2017

YearProperty Damage CrashesInjury Crashes Fatal Crashes
1997363,000104,0004,888
1998341,00098,0004,857
1999396,000109,0004,854
2000378,000108,0004,881
2001360,00096,0004,723
2002366,000102,0004,486
2003389,00097,0004,609
2004349,00095,0004,734
2005377,00089,0004,805
2006324,00087,0004,643
2007360,00082,0004,472
2008342,00074,0003,994
2009278,00060,0003,193
2010247,00067,0003,512
2011252,00073,0003,593
2012282,00085,0003,726
2013299,00086,0003,821
2014379,00093,0003,656
2015379,00097,0003,864
2016380,000112,0004,116
2017391,000116,0004,455

Source: FMCSA

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

Truck accidents can be caused by both the truck drivers themselves and the drivers of passenger vehicles. Some common causes for crashes involving trucks include:

  • Drug or alcohol use. 
  • Speeding.
  • Not enough stopping distance. 
  • Fatigue.

Preventing Accidents with Large Trucks & Busses

Avoiding truck accidents, and accidents of any kind, are every driver’s responsibility. 

There are some simple things all drivers can do to help prevent an accident with a truck:

  • Never drink or use drugs and drive.
  • If you’re too tired, pull over and rest or sleep.
  • Never drive faster than what is safe for the current conditions. 
  • Always keep a safe following distance and avoid driving in other driver’s and trucker’s blind spots. 
  • Always check your own blind spots before changing lanes.
  • Don’t drive distracted.

Sources: https://www.iihs.org/, https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/