Are Truckers Using Their Seat Belts?

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ( FMCSA ) is concerned about truck drivers' seat belt habits. Recent data on fatalities has shown a disturbing number of unrestrained drivers involved in fatal accidents, prompting federal regulators to take action. Federal regulators plan to survey truck drivers about their seat belt habits. The FMCSA intends to use "quantitative data collection techniques" through an anonymous, self-administered online survey. This survey aims to understand truckers' behaviors regarding seat belt use and road safety.

Alarming Statistics

At a 2021 meeting organized by the Intermodal Association of North America, Jack Van Steenburg, then FMCSA's chief safety officer, highlighted shocking statistics: nearly 900 occupants of large trucks were killed in crashes in 2019, and almost half were not wearing seat belts. Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation, noted a troubling trend: "One thing we're seeing in trucking is that seat belt usage is going down." She stressed that unbelted individuals are disproportionately represented in fatality numbers.

Recent Data

In 2021, 64% of truck drivers killed in large truck crashes were not wearing seat belts. This was an increase from 44% in 2020 and 59% in 2019, highlighting a worrying trend. The following graph provides a visual representation of the data regarding seat belt usage among truck drivers killed in crashes over the years 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Dark Blue Segment: Represents the percentage of truck drivers killed in crashes who were not wearing seat belts.

Yellow Segment: Represents the remaining percentage up to 100%, indicating those who were either wearing seat belts or for whom the seat belt status was not specified.

• 2121: 64% of the truck drivers killed in 2021 were not wearing seat belts, while the remaining 36% were either wearing seat belts or their seat belt status was not recorded.

• 2020: 44% of the truck drivers killed were not wearing seat belts, whereas 56% were either wearing seat belts or their seat belt status was not recorded.

• 2019: 59% of the truck drivers killed in crashes were not wearing seat belts, and the remaining 41% were either wearing seat belts or their seat belt status was not recorded.

As the FMCSA moves forward with this survey, the goal is clear: to improve road safety by ensuring that more truck drivers use their seat belts. Understanding and addressing the reasons behind low seat belt usage among truckers could save lives and reduce fatalities on the road.