Who's at fault in car-truck crashes?

Surprise! New infographic shows that drivers of big, scary trucks are actually safer.

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Mar 27, 2013, 08:00 ET

TUSCALOOSA, Ala., March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- When 18-wheelers and passenger vehicles collide, it's no surprise that fatality rates are higher than in crashes without a truck. Still, thanks to technology improvements, trucker safety training and other factors, truck-related fatality rates have dropped by more than half in 35 years.

But who usually causes those wrecks? U.S. Department of Transportation statistics for years have pointed to passenger vehicle drivers as the culprits. For example, passenger vehicle drivers were responsible for 87 percent of the head-on collisions with large trucks during 2010. Looking at all car-truck crashes, four out of five were caused by car drivers, according to a 2002 AAA study.

What is the biggest safety threat -- cars or trucks? is an info graphic produced by Randall-Reilly's Overdrive, the leading magazine for owner-operator truckers, using DOT data. It presents a few highlights on fault in fatal truck-car crashes and the role of drunk driving, speeding and other driver-related factors in truck and car accidents.

There are good reasons why truckers are safer drivers:

They are well screened. Each must pass tough written and driving tests to get a commercial driver's license.
They get lots of practice. Long-haul truckers often drive more than 10,000 miles each month.
Their livelihood depends on safety. Employers cannot afford the risk of hiring a trucker who has too many traffic violations or accidents.
Most of them get continuing education. All except the smallest motor carriers conduct ongoing safety training. Many carriers reward safe driving with handsome cash awards.

To download or share the info graphic, go to http://www.overdriveonline.com/what-is-the-biggest-safety-threat/.

About Randall-Reilly
Founded in 1934, Randall-Reilly provides its 4,000+ clients with strategic marketing services focused on the trucking and construction industries. Its diversified portfolio includes award-winning, multi-channel media brands, data services, research, events, and marketing services. Randall-Reilly's data division, EDA, is an industry-leading aggregator of equipment purchase and financing data used by clients for sales lead generation and market insights.

The company's trucking division serves the fleet, owner-operator, recruitment, dealer and heavy-duty aftermarket segments. Randall-Reilly's construction division covers the highway and heavy construction, road building, aggregates, landscaping and used equipment markets.

Randall-Reilly has offices in Tuscaloosa, Ala., Anniston, Ala., Charlotte, N.C., and New Berlin, Wis.

SOURCE Randall-Reilly