A new study reveals that Michigan is the safest state for truck drivers in the United States. The research carried out by premier transportation services Simplex, analyzed the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It measured the percentage of large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2020 compared to all fatal vehicle crashes per state to declare the state with the least percentage of truck incidents as the safest for truck drivers.
The study revealed that Michigan is the safest state for truck drivers on the road, as 4.72% of its fatal crashes involved large trucks. The state has recorded 1,567 vehicles involved in life-threatening crashes, and 74 large trucks were recorded by the NHTSA. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, road fatalities have fallen by 2.9% between 2018 and 2022, with serious injuries lowered by 10.6%.
Vermont is the second safest state for truck drivers, with 5% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a large truck. Although Vermont recorded 80 vehicles involved in life-threatening crashes, four large trucks were associated with these incidents in the past 12 months.
In third place is Hawaii, with a 5.26% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a truck in the last 12 months. The state recorded 114 vehicles associated with life-endangering crashes on Hawaii’s roads; six of which involving large trucks.
The fourth safest state road for truck drivers is Delaware, with 5.56% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a truck. The state saw 162 vehicles associated with life-threatening crashes, and nine were large trucks in the last 12 months.
In fifth place is Massachusetts showing a 5.74% truck-involved fatal crash rate. 488 drivers using this state’s roads have been involved in a life-endangering crash in the last 12 months, with 28 being truck drivers.
Wyoming proves to be the least-safest state for truck drivers, with 33 of the state’s 174 fatal vehicle crashes involving large trucks in the last 12 months. This equates to 18.97% of the state’s total crashes involving large trucks.
Following behind is Idaho with 16.33%, whereby 49 of 300 vehicles associated with a life-threatening crash involved trucks in the last 12 months.
Nebraska is the third least-safest state for truck drivers, with a 15.92% truck-involved fatal crash rate in 2022. This translates to 53 large trucks out of 333 vehicles.
Iowa is the fourth dangerous state for truck drivers, with 14.35% of fatal 2022 vehicle crashes involving a truck, translating to 67 large trucks out of 467 vehicles.
North Dakota has the fifth least-safe roads for truck drivers, with 13.24% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a large truck in the last 12 months, equating to 18 out of 136 vehicles.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson from Simplex commented: “This research offers an interesting insight into which states are nearing the goal of making roads safer for truck drivers. It also highlights the states that might need to consider implementing more truck-safe road systems for drivers. According to the NHTSA, there are thousands of fatal crashes involving large trucks every year, so this study could alert truck drivers to better prepare when journeying in these particular states.”
The study was conducted by Simplex, a premier transportation service offering comprehensive trucking company compliance solutions.
Credit: simplexgroup.net. For more information contact Rhoda Amoako: [email protected].
Methodology
Data Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
The number of large trucks involved in a fatal vehicle crash was compared to the overall number of fatal crashes per state in 2020.
The comparison was measured as a percentage of the total.
The state with the lowest percentage of large truck vehicles involved in a fatal crash was declared the safest in the US for truck drivers.