January 8, 2003

East Lansing - Statistics recently released from the U.S. Department of Transportation show that Michigan had 115 fatal truck crashes in 2001, dropping from 137 in 2000 and 126 in 1999. The 2001 rate is a 16% drop from 2000. The lowest year since 1990 was 1992 with 104 and the highest was 1994 with 161. From 1991 to 2001 the number of fatal truck crashes in Michigan dropped by 9%.

In 2001, there were 123 large trucks involved in the 115 fatal crashes, and 122 people lost their lives in these crashes. The lowest number of fatalities was 1992 with 117; the highest was 1994 with 186. The number of fatalities involving large trucks in Michigan dropped by 15% between 1991 and 2001. The number of fatalities involving all vehicles in Michigan for the same time period dropped 7%.

Nationally, there were 4,793 large trucks involved in 4,431 crashes where 5,082 people died. The number of fatalities involving large trucks from 1991 to 2001 increased by 5% for the nation.

Studies continue to show that the passenger car driver is at fault the 70-80% of the time in crashes involving big rigs. Motorists are reminded to obey the "No-Zones" around large trucks. Information on the "No-Zones" can be obtained at www.sharetheroadsafely.org/noZone/noZone.asp, or by calling the Michigan Center for Truck Safety at 800-682-4682.

The statistics were encouraging; particularly in light of the fact that the number of miles traveled by both commercial and private use vehicles continues to climb.

"While we’re pleased that the safety of Michigan’s citizens on the highways is improving, any fatality is one too many, and we’re committed to reducing those numbers even further," said Capt. Robert R. Powers, Jr., Commanding Officer of the Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division.

Questions should be directed to Lt. David Ford, Michigan State Police Motor Carrier Division, at 517-336-6449. Statistics obtained from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), USDOT/FMCSA. The FARS can be accessed via the Intranet at http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov.