Big Rig Accidents in New Hampshire
New Hampshire fatal crashes involving big rigs are at about the national average, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports. Still, special attention is given to such collisions because they have the potential to cause numerous injuries and fatalities.
Accident Statistics
On average, large trucks have caused approximately 8.3 percent of all the fatal collisions in the US in 2014. The lowest percentage is in Hawaii – 3.1 percent and the highest one is in North Dakota – 25.4 percent.
Of all the fatal crashes that occurred in New Hampshire during the year (126), 12 involved large trucks. This means that the percentage is slightly higher than the national average – 9.5 percent. The collisions caused the death of two truck drivers and 12 individuals who were either pedestrians or in another vehicle.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has rather detailed statistics about the fatal accidents that had trucks involved in each state. Here are the numbers for the period from 2005 to 2015:
| Year | Number of Fatal Crashes | Number of Trucks Involved | Number of Fatalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 2007 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| 2008 | 12 | 12 | 13 |
| 2009 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
| 2010 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2011 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 2012 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| 2013 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| 2014 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| 2015 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Statistics for 2016 and 2017 paint a similar picture, suggesting that the number of accidents has remained low in comparison to data for 2013 and 2014. According to 2016 numbers, there have been 450 collisions involving big rigs. These caused six deaths and 165 injuries. Data for 2017 is still incomplete, but for the first months of the year, there have been 104 crashes that led to one death and 39 injuries.
Hazardous Cargo
While hazardous cargo has been present in only three percent of the national crashes in 2015, the nature of such materials can lead to serious dangers. When hazardous cargo is spilled, entire communities can be jeopardized.
Large trucks involved in fatal crashes could be carrying a range of different dangerous materials. There have been no reports of fatal accidents involving poisonous, infectious or radioactive substances.
Contributing Factors
Trucks cause the death of 4,500 people in the US on an annual basis. Big rigs lead to almost 11 percent of all crash fatalities.
Various factors can contribute to a higher risk of collisions. The most common ones include the following:
- Driver negligence or distractions
- Speeding
- Limited visibility because of fog
- Sleet, ice or snow on the road
- Unfamiliarity of the road and roadway interruptions
- Inadequate surveillance
- Illegal maneuvers
- Fatigue
- The use of illicit drugs and alcohol
- Vehicle failures like brake or tire problems