Texas & the Deadliest Dozen in Truck Wrecks: Experts Urge Congress to Take Action

Texas and 11 other states lead the nation in fatal 18-wheeler accidents, and those Deadliest Dozen slightly changed this year, according to safety experts at the Truck Safety Coalition (TSC).

Updating their report on the “Worst Fatal Truck Crash States,” TSC has pointed out how deadly 18-wheeler wrecks have consistently increased over the last 10 years, motivating advocates to renew their demands for “common sense solutions” to save lives.

As part of this effort, TSC refreshed its Deadliest Dozen rankings while issuing a clear call to “Congress and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) to aggressively pursue simple solutions to reduce truck crash violence on our roads.”

Unpacking what’s at stake, here’s a closer look at:

• Fatal 18-Wheeler Wrecks: The Scope of the Problem
• How the Deadliest Dozen for Fatal 18-Wheeler Accidents Has Changed
• How to Prevent Fatal Truck Accidents: TSC Recommendations
• Can Policy Alone Reduce Deadly 18-Wheeler Wrecks?

To see last year’s report on the Deadliest Dozen, click here and find out how Texas ranked (Spoiler: The Lone Star state continues to lead the pack in fatal 18-wheeler wrecks).

Fatal 18-Wheeler Wrecks: The Scope of the Problem

The latest data on deadly semi-truck crashes uncovers how these wrecks have remained fairly impervious to efforts that have effectively reduced fatal passenger vehicle accidents since 2021.

In fact, trucking crash deaths have increased in recent years, with recent data and statistics revealing that:

• In 2022 (the latest year for which complete data is available), truck accidents killed roughly 6,000 people in the U.S., injuring more than ~160,000 others.
• Year-over-year (YoY), 18-wheeler accidents have increased by ~2%.
• About 70% of truck accident deaths take the lives of individuals who are not in semi-trucks (e.g., passenger vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists).
• Truckers involved in fatal wrecks were most likely to have been involved in previous crashes, when compared to passenger vehicle drivers, motorcyclists, and others.
• Since 2009, fatal 18-wheeler wrecks have skyrocketed by ~75%.
• Texas ranks #1 for the most fatal 18-wheeler crashes, as well as the most vehicles involved in deadly traffic wrecks.

These numbers paint a deeply disturbing picture of rising deaths from big rig crashes, setting off alarm bells for safety watchdogs, lawmakers, and many others.

How the Deadliest Dozen for Fatal 18-Wheeler Accidents Has Changed

Nine of the Deadliest Dozen states didn’t change in the TSC report, and these “worst states” for fatal trucking accidents are featured in the table below, based on how many deadly big rig wrecks occurred per every 100,000 residents.

*The data is for 2022, the most current year for which complete and verified data is available.

Wildly, the Deadliest Dozen in the table above does not exactly map onto the top 12 states with the most fatal 18-wheeler accidents by total numbers (rather than based on population). In fact, only Alabama and Texas are featured on both lists, with the Lone Star State beating out every other state for the most deadly wrecks.

*The data is for 2022, the most current year for which complete and verified data is available.

When looking at how the Deadliest Dozen has changed over the past year:

• Louisiana, Kentucky, and South Carolina dropped off the latest rankings: While this could mean that conditions improved, resulting in fewer deadly big rig wrecks in these states, it’s more likely that other states simply had spikes in truck accident deaths, pushing these three out of the Deadliest Dozen.
• Arkansas, South Dakota, and Kansas were new additions: Not featured last year, these three states came on to the TSC’s Deadliest Dozen in the latest report, with Arkansas leading the pack to land at the 5th spot, suggesting an incredible spike in truck wrecks in The Natural State last year.

How to Prevent Fatal Truck Accidents: TSC Recommendations

Responding to the latest numbers and surging big rig crash deaths, TSC issued a formal call to Congress and the U.S. DoT on December 5, 2024, urging authorities to take several actions to better mitigate the risks of truck wrecks and rising fatalities. Some of the TSC recommendations include:

1. Implementing an Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) rule: AEB systems can detect potential collisions and automatically apply the brakes to prevent or mitigate crashes. Mandating this technology could save countless lives by reducing human error, TSC experts say.
2. Requiring Speed Limiters on 18-Wheelers: A  new rule requiring speed-limiting technology on big rigs could help reduce excessive speeding, which is responsible for nearly 1 in 5 fatal truck accidents. While many trucks already have this technology installed, TSC advocates want a rule mandating activation and requiring speed limiters on all 18-wheelers.
3. Removing Certain Exemptions: The largest big rigs, meaning longer, heavier 18-wheelers, are often involved in deadly wrecks because they’re more difficult to stop. In light of that, TSC watchdogs are pushing for the end of specific exemptions for these vehicles.

Commenting on the TSC Report and recommendations, Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) stated:

Truckers and drivers deserve to be able to travel our roads safely… This report is a painful reminder that we have much more work to do.

Can Policy Alone Reduce Deadly 18-Wheeler Wrecks?

The jury’s out on this question, but there may soon be an answer if lawmakers take action to enact any of the rules TSC has recommended. As effective as thoughtful, well-devised policies can be, they aren’t the only factors that can play a role in preventing fatal truck accidents. Others can include (and are not limited to):

• Advancements in vehicle technology, particularly in the area of autonomous trucks
• Infrastructure improvements in terms of roadway design, maintenance, and expansions
• Stepped up accountability and enforcement for motor carriers, especially those with a history of noncompliance and/or negligence

Addressing these and related issues at a state and national level may be necessary to make real, lasting progress in minimizing fatal truck accidents in both Texas and across the U.S.

While that will likely take time and the coordination of multiple parties, it won’t do anything for those who have lost loved ones in a deadly 18-wheeler wreck. What can help in these unimaginable times is finding out more about the legal options for seeking justice.