Table 5-3: Transportation Accidents by Freight Transportation Mode
Large trucks were involved in about 7 percent of all highway crashes in 2003. The estimated number of crashes in 2003 is up about 23 percent since 1990, a good deal less than the roughly 50 percent increase in truck miles driven over the same period.
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 20035 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (passenger and freight) | NA | 6,471,000 | 6,394,000 | 6,328,000 |
| Large truck1 | NA | 372,000 | 438,000 | 457,000 |
| Large truck1 (percent of total) | NA | 5.7 | 6.9 | 7.2 |
| Rail (passenger and freight) | |
|
|
|
| Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 | 10,796 | 5,715 | 3,502 | 2,928 |
| Railroad2,4 | 8,205 | 2,879 | 2,983 | 2,950 |
| Waterborne (passenger and freight) | |
|
|
|
| Vessel-related | 4,624 | 3,613 | 3,887 | 4,110 |
| Pipeline | |
|
|
|
| Hazardous liquid pipeline | 246 | 180 | 147 | 128 |
| Gas pipeline | 1,524 | 198 | 234 | 241 |
Key: NA = not available.
1Large trucks are defined as trucks over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating, including single-unit trucks and truck tractors.
2Includes Amtrak.
3Includes both accidents and incidents. Most highway-rail grade crossing accidents are also counted under highway.
4Train accidents only.
5Railroad fatalities are preliminary. Waterborne fatalities are for 2002.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2004 (Washington, DC: forthcoming).
