FMCSA Says Rate of Truck-Occupant Deaths and Fatal Crashes Continues to Climb

Increasing numbers of large-truck-involved fatal crashes in work zones and a continuing increase in the number of fatalities of large-truck occupants has been a cause of concern for Federal trucking regulators. Over the past year, there has been an increase in both the number of large-truck-occupant fatalities and fatal work zone crashes involving at least one truck. The top five driver-related factors for large trucks and buses in fatal crashes were speeding, distractions such as cell phones, failure to yield right of way, impairment (fatigue) and careless driving. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says that work needing to be done will include inputting more accurate and timely crash data, evaluating tools to help drivers know when they are fatigued, continuing research on the promise of platooning, and supporting research and adoption of technologies for automated driving systems. In 2019, the agency plans to continue its second year of study on a new method to improve the Compliance, Safety, Accountability Safety Measurement System using what is known as the Item Response Theory (IRT) model recommended in a 2017 study by the National Academy of Sciences.