Truck Fatalities Decline in 2005, NHTSA Reports
he number of truck-involved highway fatalities decreased in 2005, while the overall rate of fatalities rose for the first time since 1986, according to figures released Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
According to NHTSA, truck-related fatalities decreased 0.4% to 5,212 compared with 5,235 in 2004. The number had increased two straight years.
The fatality rate among all vehicles was 1.47 per 100 million miles traveled, up from 1.45 in 2004. The number of deaths rose 1.4% to 43,443 from 42,836.
The truck fatality rate won't be available until later this year, after the number of truck miles traveled is calculated.
"We are pleased to see that both fatality and injury figures in truck-involved crashes are trending downward," said Bill Graves, president of American Trucking Associations. "These numbers highlight the successful efforts of the trucking industry to increase safety on the nation's highways and illustrate the continuing improvement in highway safety among our professional drivers."
Motorcycle fatalities increased to 4,553 from 4,028, and almost half of those who died in such accidents last year were not wearing helmets, NHTSA said. Pedestrian deaths rose to 4,881 from 4,675.
