Table 5-3: Transportation Accidents by Freight Transportation Mode
Large trucks were involved in about 7 percent of all highway crashes in 2004. The estimated number of crashes in 2004 is up by about 12 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 | Historical data
 |
1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2003 | 20045 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highway (passenger and freight) | NA | 6,471,000 | 6,394,000 | 6,328,000 | 6,181,000 |
| Large truck1 | NA | 372,000 | 438,000 | (R) 436,000 | 416,000 |
| Large truck1 (percent of total) | NA | 5.7 | 6.9 | (R) 6.9 | 6.7 |
| Rail (passenger and freight) | |||||
| Highway-rail grade crossing2,3 | 10,796 | 5,715 | 3,502 | (R) 2,966 | 3,050 |
| Railroad2,4 | 8,205 | 2,879 | 2,983 | (R) 2,991 | 3,179 |
| Waterborne (passenger and freight) | |||||
| Vessel-related | 4,624 | 3,613 | (R) 5,403 | (R) 5,163 | 4,962 |
| Pipeline | |||||
| Hazardous liquid pipeline | 246 | 180 | (R) 146 | (R) 129 | 140 |
| Gas pipeline | 1,524 | 198 | 234 | (R) 244 | 292 |
Key: NA = not available; R = revised.
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.
Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2005 available at http://www.bts.gov/ as of September 25, 2005.
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