Survey links fatalities with truck length

A study conducted at Marshall University in the United States by the Multimodal Transportation and Infrastructure Consortium found a direct correlation between truck length and the severity of accidents. It found a 15.5% higher fatality rate on US roads when double trailer trucks are involved in a crash compared to single trailer trucks. The rate is eight times higher for trucks with six or more axles compared to those with five axles. The report has been released as a broad coalition of law enforcement, labour, accident victims and health and safety groups, all of whom have joined forces to oppose legislation that will allow bigger and heavier trucks on the American roads. According to the coalition, truck crash fatalities and injuries have increased three years in a row. “Overweight trucks accelerate the destruction of roads and bridges," the group said.