Heavy Trucks and Fatal Crashes: An Unresolved Dilemma

Heavy Trucks (HT) are an integral part of the transportation system of the eighties. However, analyses of HT crashes from FARS, BMCS and North Carolina crash files indicate that HT pose great danger for occupants of vehicles with which they collide. Furthermore, during the past few years, fatal crash involvement rates of HT have been dramatically increasing and in 1978, the rate was twice that of passenger cars.

To account for the safety hazards associated with HT, three hypotheses have been suggested. Changes in HT design and in qualifying HT drivers are recommended to improve HT safety.