Texas has the worst traffic in the U.S., and Rhode Island has the worst road infrastructure, but when it comes to best (not worst), a new study by Simplex Group shows Michigan is the safest state for truck drivers in the country.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there have been 4,842 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in the past year. A provider of Transportation services, Simplex Group analyzed 2022 NHTSA data and measured the percentage of large trucks involved in fatal crashes last year compared to all fatal vehicle crashes per state to declare the state with the least percentage of truck incidents as the safest for truck drivers.
Michigan emerged as the safest state for truck drivers on the road, as 4.72% of its fatal crashes involved large trucks. The state has recorded 1,567 vehicles involved in life-threatening crashes, and 74 large trucks were recorded by the NHTSA. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, road fatalities have fallen by 2.9% between 2018 and 2022, with serious injuries lowered by 10.6%.
Vermont is the second safest state for truck drivers, with 5% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a large truck. Although Vermont recorded 80 vehicles involved in life-threatening crashes, four large trucks were associated with these incidents in the past 12 months.
In third is Hawaii, with a 5.26% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a truck in the last 12 months. The state recorded 114 vehicles associated with life-endangering crashes on Hawaii’s roads; six of which involving large trucks.
The fourth safest state road for truck drivers is Delaware, with 5.56% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a truck. The state saw 162 vehicles associated with life-threatening crashes, and nine were large trucks in the last 12 months.
Rounding out the top five is Massachusetts, showing a 5.74% truck-involved fatal crash rate. Just under 500 drivers (488) using this state's roads have been involved in a life-endangering crash in the last 12 months, with 28 being truck drivers.
Worst of the best
Wyoming was the least-safest state for truck drivers last year with 33 of the state’s 174 fatal vehicle crashes involving large trucks in the last 12 months, according to Simplex's analysis. This equates to 18.97% of the state's total crashes involving large trucks.
Following behind is Idaho with 16.33%, whereby 49 of 300 vehicles associated with a life-threatening crash involved trucks in the last 12 months.
Nebraska is the third least-safest state for truck drivers, with a 15.92% truck-involved fatal crash rate in 2022. This translates to 53 large trucks out of 333 vehicles.
Iowa is the fourth dangerous state for truck drivers, with 14.35% of fatal 2022 vehicle crashes involving a truck, translating to 67 large trucks out of 467 vehicles.
North Dakota has the fifth least-safe roads for truck drivers, with 13.24% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a large truck in the last 12 months, equating to 18 out of 136 vehicles.
