In 2009, there were 3,215 fatal crashes involving large trucks, accounting for 7.1 percent of all fatal accidents in the United States (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). In most cases, fatal truck accidents occurred in rural areas and only 1 percent were DUI-related. On the other hand, truck driver fatigue is a major cause of fatal truck accidents. In fact, research showed that 30% of all truck crashes were a result of truck drivers driving without taking enough rest and getting the required amount of sleep.
In Arizona, only 67 large trucks or 6.6 percent out of 1,008 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes in 2009. From this total number, 8 resulted in roll over and 14 resulted in a fire. Large truck accidents in Arizona are the second most infrequent type of accident, next to buses, according to data from NHTSA-FARS.