Illinois Fatal Truck Accident Statistics
Illinois reported 998 deaths due to traffic accidents in 2015, which is dramatically lower than the years 2006 to 2008 when the numbers were all over 1000. The highest year for the reporting period was 2006 with 1254, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Wisconsin is well below the US average per 100,000 for years 2011 to 2015. In the year 2015, Wisconsin had an average of 7.76 as compared to the national average of 10.92. However, fatal truck accidents have seen a sharp increase in the same time period. Fatalities involving a pickup truck have gone up from 67 in 2011 to 92 in 2015 with an increase almost every year.
Utility truck-related deaths have also increased from 102 in 2011 to 126 in 2015, which accounts for the highest percentage of truck fatalities. The numbers have seen a steady increase for each year. Van-related deaths have fluctuated slightly but remained near the 38 seen in 2011. Large truck-related deaths have actually declined slightly from 16 in 2011 to 12 in 2015.
Cook County is by far the leader for large truck-related fatalities with 15 while other counties have seven or fewer for 2015. While this number is significant for the county, it is a decline from previous years and only half what was reported in 2013.
Unfortunately for Cook County, it is also the leader in light truck fatalities with 36. This number is also a decrease from previous years with a high of 51 in 2012. In a distant second place with fewer than half Cook County’s total are St. Clair and Will counties, each with 14. Third place goes to Madison County, which reported 10 deaths in the last three of five years. Many other counties report only one death involving light trucks.