The Truck Safety Coalition calls for immediate action to advance critical truck safety reforms following the sobering release of the "Deadliest Truck Crash States" report. The report provides valuable insights into one of the worst years for truck crash deaths in modern history.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Today, the Truck Safety Coalition calls for immediate action to advance critical truck safety reforms following the sobering release of the "" report. The report ranks States on truck crash fatalities per 100,000 population for 2022, the most recent year for which data is available. The "Deadliest Dozen" states are Wyoming, New Mexico, North Dakota, Montana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Alabama, Mississippi, Nebraska, Kansas and Texas. The National Center for Statistics and Analysis at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) generated the data for the report.
"Across New Mexico and the country, truckers and drivers deserve to be able to travel our roads safely," said Senator Luján (D-NM). "To see that truck crash deaths have increased by nearly 75% since 2009 is a sobering reminder that we must continue to fight to reduce the number of truck crash fatalities. That is why I remain committed to pushing the Department of Transportation to act and implement common sense solutions to prevent needless deaths and keep our roadways safe. This report is a painful reminder that we have much more work to do."
The report provides valuable insights into one of the worst years for truck crash deaths in modern history. NHTSA reports that nearly 6,000 people lost their lives and over 160,000 injuries. "Truck crash deaths have continued to rise over the last 10 years, demonstrating the need for safety reforms," Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-01) said. "Safety was my first priority when working on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, including mandating automatic emergency braking, stronger standards for rear underride guards, and increased funding for safety programs, among other provisions. We can and must do more to reverse the rise in truck-related injuries and fatalities."
More must be done to combat this deadly rise in crashes. Abigail Godines, a Wyoming resident was stunned, "I lost my parents, brother, sister-in-law, and infant niece when they were struck by a speeding semi that failed to stop traveling an unconscionable 76 miles an hour. Speeding semis are a menace and a deadly threat to everyone on the highway."
The Truck Safety Coalition calls on Congress and the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to aggressively pursue simple solutions to reduce truck crash violence on our roads:
- DOT must expeditiously finalize its Automatic Emergency Braking rule for all classes of CMVs.
- DOT/FMCSA must expeditiously complete its speed limiter rule for CMVs. Roughly 20% of all fatal large truck crashes involved trucks speeding at 70+ miles per hour
- Congress and DOT must not allow exemptions for longer and heavier trucks; these trucks are difficult to stop and involved in more severe crashes
Zach Cahalan, TSC Executive Director implores decision-makers to act, "You are not safe from large trucks on the roads this holiday season, or any season, for that matter. We implore the incoming administration to prioritize safety and take decisive action to prevent unnecessary suffering and loss of life."
The Truck Safety Coalition (TSC) is a partnership between Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), also known as The CRASH Foundation, and Parents Against Tired Truckers (P.A.T.T.). The Truck Safety Coalition is dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by truck-related crashes, providing compassionate support to truck crash survivors and families of truck crash victims, and educating the public, policymakers, and the media about truck safety issues. Visit our website at .
Media Contact
Zach Cahalan, Truck Safety Coalition, 1 202-921-9526, [email protected],
SOURCE Truck Safety Coalition
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