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