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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.

Table in Excel format

empty Cell 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) empty Cell empty Cell empty Cell empty Cell
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) empty Cell empty Cell empty Cell empty Cell
Vessel-related 4,624 3,613 3,887 4,110
Pipeline empty Cell empty Cell empty Cell empty Cell
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).

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