Washington Fatal Bus Accident Statistics
Washington has a low fatality rate for large truck and bus accidents. Compared to the 11.19 rate per one million persons that is the national average, Washington reports just 4.74. Even though the population had grown from 6.7 million in 2010 to 7.1 million in 2015, the rate increased only slightly from 4.02.
There were 42 fatalities in the state in 2015 involving large trucks and buses. This number was up slightly from 36 in 2014 and 40 in 2013. However, it is down significantly from 2006 to 2009 when the numbers were over 50 for each year. These deaths came from 34 fatal accidents, which involved 34 large vehicles. Ten of these were single-vehicle accidents. This information comes from a report compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
In this report, a bus is defined as a vehicle that carries at least eight passengers and a driver. This may mean school buses along with city and transport buses as well as van-buses. Most of these accidents happen during the week on dry pavement. The majority occur on rural roads when the vehicle is traveling at 50 to 55 mph. Very few occur along work zones or in intersections.
About half of the counties reported at least one fatality but fewer than six. The exception was King County, which reported 12 deaths. This number was a dramatic increase from two for the prior year and even five reported in 2012. More large-vehicle fatalities occurred in the southern part of the state. Counties like Pierce had five, which was an increase from one reported the previous year while Mason County had only one. Spokane County reported a decrease with two for the year, which was down from four for 2014. Whitman County was also down to two from three deaths for 2014.