The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) recently reported that deadly crashes involving semi trucks have decreased by almost half since 2005, from 173 to 88. MoDOT released a report about the decrease in fatal semi truck accidents in honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Sept. 19 through 25.
MoDOT cites several reasons for this decline. MoDOT itself deserves some credit for engineering efforts like visibility improvements and rumble stripes that keep drivers in their own lanes. Fatal crashes caused by lane departure fell by more than half in the period under study -- from 136 to 62. There was a particularly steep decline in fatal crashes caused by vehicles crossing the median of a divided highway and veering into oncoming traffic. Those crashes declined by 85 percent, from 20 to 3.
The bad economy has also reduced deadly accidents involving tractor trailers because both passenger cars and commercial trucks are traveling less. When accidents do occur, emergency response personnel are doing a better job of responding to them. MoDOT says emergency response time has improved in both Kansas City and St. Louis. Tom Crawford, president of the Missouri Trucking Association, added that some of the credit also belongs to professional truck drivers who practice defensive driving and pay attention.
Whatever the reasons for the decrease in deadly accidents, let's hope this encouraging trend continues.
