In April 2025, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its 2023 traffic safety data report, revealing what initially appears as welcome news for Americans: an 8.3% decrease in large truck fatalities from 2022. However, for truck safety advocates, the 5,472 lives lost in 2023—that’s approximately 15 people killed each day—reflect a persistent roadway danger that continues to devastate American communities.
The modest decrease from 2022's record-high 5,969 fatalities must be placed in proper context: fatal truck crashes remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels, with nearly 500 more annual deaths than in 2018 and over 2,000 more deaths than in 2009.
The Alarming Long-Term Trajectory
NHTSA data reveals a disturbing upward trajectory over the past 14 years:
- Fatal crashes involving large trucks increased from 2,983 in 2009 to 4,896 in 2023—a staggering 64.1% increase
- Fatalities rose from 2,896 in 2009 to 5,472 in 2023—an 87.4% increase
- These represent compound annual growth rates of 3.6% for crashes and 3.5% for fatalities—far exceeding population growth (0.7% annually)
Since 2013, nearly 54,000 people have lost their lives in large truck crashes and each one of these lives could have been saved had proper safety measures been taken.
Looking Beyond Fatalities
While fatalities draw headlines, the true impact of truck crashes extends much further. In 2023, 153,452 people were injured in large truck crashes—an average of 420 people every day or 17 people every hour. Though this represents a 4.5% decrease from 2022's record high of 160,619 injuries, the overall trend remains alarming.
From 2018 to 2023 alone, over 920,000 people were injured in large truck crashes—roughly equivalent to the entire population of Austin, Texas.
Injuries in Large Truck Crashes (2018-2023)
- 2018: 151,170 people injured
- 2019: 159,359 people injured (+5.4%)
- 2020: 141,613 people injured (-11.1%) [pandemic-related decline]
- 2021: 154,813 people injured (+9.3%)
- 2022: 160,619 people injured (+3.8%) [highest in the dataset]
- 2023: 153,452 people injured (-4.5%)
The Disproportionate Danger: Trucks and Fatal Crashes
It can be easy to dismiss the harm caused by large trucks on our roads because they are such a small fraction of the overall roadway fatalities, making up 13.4% of all fatal crashes in 2023. However, when considering the population of trucks on our roads and the relative use of our roads, the harm caused by unsafe truck drivers is wildly disproportionate.
Never mind, these injuries and deaths are largely preventable.
- In 2023, large truck crashes were responsible for 13.4% of all traffic fatalities (5,472 of 40,901 total)
- Yet, large trucks account for only about 5% of vehicles on the road and 10.2% of all Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT)
- This represents a 34% increase in trucks' share of roadway deaths since 2009 (from 10.0% to 13.4%)
When analyzed per mile traveled, the risk disparity becomes even clearer:
- Light-duty vehicles: 1 fatality per 81.3 million miles traveled
- Large trucks: 1 fatality per 60.3 million miles traveled
The bottom line is: that large trucks are involved in fatal crashes 35% more often per mile traveled and are responsible for 2.6 times as many deaths as all other vehicle crashes combined
Who Bears the Risk?
This disproportionate danger is even more pronounced when we look at who dies in these crashes. The overwhelming majority of truck crash victims are not truck occupants:
This disproportionate danger is even more pronounced when we look at who dies in these crashes. The overwhelming majority of truck crash victims are not truck occupants:
- 72% of fatalities are occupants of other vehicles
- 17% are truck occupants
- 11% are vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.)
Physics explains this disparity: when an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer collides with a 4,000-pound passenger car, the smaller vehicle's occupants bear the overwhelming risk.
Vulnerable road users face particularly severe danger, with 544 pedestrians and 92 cyclists killed in large truck crashes in 2023. While these numbers represent slight decreases from 2022, they remain historically high and are likely to increase as e-commerce continues to drive more delivery trucks into dense urban areas.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes Dominate
The vast majority of fatal large truck crashes in 2023 involved multiple vehicles:
- 60.7% were two-vehicle crashes (2,972 incidents)
- 17.0% involved three or more vehicles (834 incidents)
- Only 22.3% were single-vehicle crashes (1,090 incidents)
This distribution underscores a critical aspect of the truck safety crisis: nearly 78% of fatal truck crashes involve at least one other vehicle, multiplying the human toll beyond the trucking industry itself.
An Industry Culture That Prioritizes Profit Over People
Despite the clear disproportionate danger posed by large trucks, the industry's approach to safety remains problematic. The elevated fatality and injury rates are rooted in an industry culture where economic pressures too often override safety concerns.
Key factors contributing to this ongoing crisis include:
- Inadequate driver training and oversight - Many new drivers receive minimal training before operating vehicles that require specialized skills
- Economic pressures that encourage unsafe practices - Pay-per-mile compensation structures incentivize driving more extended hours and at higher speeds
- Insufficient regulatory enforcement - Limited resources for inspections and enforcement of existing regulations
- Resistance to adopting available safety technologies - Slow implementation of proven technologies like automatic emergency braking and electronic stability control
- Industry opposition to safety reforms - Consistent lobbying against regulations that could reduce fatalities
What makes these numbers even more disturbing is the recognition that only a small fraction of truck drivers on our roads are responsible for this level of devastation.
The vast majority of truck and bus drivers maintain impeccable safety records, take pride in their work, and fully understand their responsibility when operating vehicles that can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. These drivers diligently follow federal regulations, prioritize proper rest, and maintain their vehicles.
What's unacceptable is that a small subset of drivers and companies who cut corners on safety can cause so much harm, while industry practices and economic pressures continue to enable these unsafe operators rather than effectively addressing the problem.
Conclusion: A Public Health Crisis That Demands Decisive Action
The analysis of NHTSA data from 2009 to 2023 clearly shows we're facing a persistent, worsening crisis, not a temporary problem. The slight improvement in 2023 demonstrates that improvement is possible, but lasting solutions will require fundamental reforms that prioritize human lives over profit
The most recent data release shows that every day in America, approximately:
- 13 fatal large truck crashes occur
- 15 people lose their lives in these crashes
- 420 people are injured in large truck crashes
The trucking industry often points to external factors—distracted drivers, increased traffic, or weather conditions—but the inescapable reality is that large trucks create an outsized danger on our roads. Their disproportionate involvement in fatal crashes makes truck safety not just an industry issue but a critical public health priority requiring immediate and decisive action.
If you or a loved one were impacted by a truck accident. Reach out to our team for guidance.
