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People Table 29. Drivers of Large Trucks in Fatal Crashes by Driver-Related Factors and Violations Recorded, 2017-2019

Document
19P29.xlsx (20.95 KB)
Driver-Related Factors 2017: Number 2017: Percent 2018: Number 2018: Percent 2019: Number 2019: Percent
Speeding of Any Kind 320 6.7% 333 6.9% 374 7.6%
Distraction/inattention (Cell Phone, Lost in Thought, Eating, etc.)a 274 5.8% 253 5.2% 261 5.3%
Impairment (Fatigue, Alcohol, Illness, etc.)a 209 4.4% 220 4.6% 232 4.7%
Failure to Yield Right of Way 220 4.6% 226 4.7% 229 4.6%
Careless Driving 193 4.1% 199 4.1% 219 4.4%
Vision Obscured (by Weather, Roadway Design, Vehicles, etc.) 171 3.6% 149 3.1% 167 3.4%
Improper Lane Usageb 145 3.1% 166 3.4% 146 3.0%
Failure to Obey Actual Traffic Sign, Traffic Control Devices or Traffic
  Officers; Failure to Obey Safety Zone Traffic Laws
130 2.7% 110 2.3% 116 2.3%
Following Improperly 99 2.1% 107 2.2% 108 2.2%
Ice, Water, Snow, Slush, Sand, Dirt, Oil, Wet Leaves on Road 40 0.8% 46 1.0% 77 1.6%
Overcorrecting 81 1.7% 65 1.3% 62 1.3%
Driver has a Driving Record or Driver’s License from More than One State 51 1.1% 59 1.2% 58 1.2%
Operating the Vehicle in an Erratic, Reckless, Careless, or Negligent 
  Manner or Operating at Erratic or Suddenly Changing Speeds
49 1.0% 56 1.2% 50 1.0%
Making Improper Turn 34 0.7% 42 0.9% 43 0.9%
Stopping in Roadway (Vehicle Not Abandoned) 37 0.8% 35 0.7% 42 0.8%
Non-Traffic Violation Charged (Manslaughter or Homicide or Other Assault) 42 0.9% 37 0.8% 41 0.8%
Driving on Wrong Side of Road (Intentional or Unintentional) 33 0.7% 41 0.8% 39 0.8%
Improper or Erratic Lane Changing 38 0.8% 35 0.7% 27 0.5%
Severe Crosswind 2 0.0% 4 0.1% 26 0.5%
Starting or Backing Improperly 25 0.5% 14 0.3% 21 0.4%
Operating Without Required Equipment 27 0.6% 19 0.4% 20 0.4%
Vehicle in Road 18 0.4% 20 0.4% 18 0.4%
Tire Blowout or Flat 15 0.3% 21 0.4% 18 0.4%
Looked But Did Not Seec 23 0.5% 16 0.3%
Passing with Insufficient Distance or Inadequate Visibility or Failing to Yield
  to Overtaking Vehicle
9 0.2% 13 0.3% 14 0.3%
Overloading or Improper Loading of Vehicle with Passenger or Cargo 16 0.3% 10 0.2% 12 0.2%
Failure to Observe Warnings or Instructions on Vehicle Displaying Them 5 0.1% 6 0.1% 10 0.2%
Phantom Vehicle 3 0.1% 13 0.3% 10 0.2%
Driver Has Not Complied With Physical or Other Imposed Restrictions 14 0.3% 11 0.2% 9 0.2%
Alcohol and/or Drug Test Refused 8 0.2% 8 0.2% 9 0.2%
Aggressive Driving / Road Rage 8 0.2% 5 0.1% 9 0.2%
Passing Where Prohibited by Posted Signs, Pavement Markings,
  Hill, or Curve, or School Bus Displaying Warning Not to Pass
6 0.1% 8 0.2% 9 0.2%
Driving Less Than Posted Minimum 4 0.1% 8 0.2% 7 0.1%
Fire Personneld 7 0.1%
Tow Operatore 7 0.1%
At Least One Driver-Related Factor Recorded 1,541 32.5% 1,572 32.5% 1,628 32.9%
No Driver-Related Factors Recorded 3,205 67.5% 3,260 67.5% 3,321 67.1%
Totalf 4,746 100.0% 4,832 100.0% 4,949 100.0%
At Least One Moving Violation Recorded 416 8.8% 441 9.1% 464 9.4%
No Moving Violations Recorded 4,330 91.2% 4,391 90.9% 4,485 90.6%
Totalf 4,746 100.0% 4,832 100.0% 4,949 100.0%
— Not applicable.
*Less than 0.05 percent.
aFor more detail on driver distractions and impairments, see People Tables 31 and 32.
b"Improper Lane Usage" was formerly known as "Failure to Keep in Proper Lane."
c"Looked But Did Not See" was removed from the list of driver distraction-related factors and listed as a driver-related factor for the first time in 2018.
d"Fire Personnel" was listed as a driver-related factor for the first time in 2019.
e"Tow Operator" was listed as a driver-related factor for the first time in 2019.
fThe sums of numbers and percentages may be greater than the totals shown, because more than one factor may be present for a single driver.
Note: A large truck is defined as a truck with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) greater than 10,000 pounds.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
Last updated: Tuesday, January 31, 2023