Truck accidents are not as common as car accidents in Oklahoma, but they are far more likely to be deadly or catastrophic. At Fulmer Sill, we want everyone in our communities to be safe and sound whenever they are on the road, which is why we are looking at some recent Oklahoma truck accident statistics. With more knowledge about how and why truck accidents happen, we can all learn how to drive safer when around commercial trucks.
2019 Oklahoma Truck Accident Statistics
According to the Oklahoma Public Safety Office, in 2020, there were:
- 4,784 total truck accidents in the state
- 1,168 truck accidents that caused at least one injury
- 1,563 injuries total in those accidents
- 73 truck accidents that caused at least one fatality
- 75 fatalities total in those accidents
While these Oklahoma truck accident crash statistics all dropped noticeably from 2019, it is worth noting that the drop was not as significant as it reasonably should have been. Due to widespread COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, the number of drivers on the road at any given time was much lower than in previous years. Despite this comparative scarcity of drivers, the truck crash rate did not drop by the same percentage. This information suggests that truck accidents were technically more likely in 2020 than in 2019. (Data for 2021 is still being finalized and compiled.)
When & Where Crashes Happen in Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Public Safety Office and the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) have a detailed map of all crashes in the state. Although this map does not sort the crashes into vehicle type, it can be assumed that the rate of truck accidents compared to car accidents stays predictable in all regions, so the information is still useful for understanding truck accident causes.
According to the OHSO 2020 data:
- Weekday dangers: Most accidents happen on weekdays, not the weekend. This could be due to the fact that more trucking companies operate during the week than exclusively on Saturday or Sunday.
- Hourly dangers: Most accidents happen between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM, with a low point in the very early morning hours. This is likely due to after-work rush hour traffic, as well as the setting sun being in drivers’ eyes.
- Monthly dangers: Most accidents happen between June and October, with a significant increase between May and June. This might happen due to more families being on the road around commercial trucks as children leave school for the summer and parents take time off work.
- Negligence dangers: Speed-related accidents are by far the most common in Oklahoma each year. Distracted driving is the second-most common cause of crashes. Intoxication is the third-leading cause of traffic collisions.
Using the Data for Good
The crash data from the Oklahoma Public Safety Office can be used to give us some insight into how to stay safer on the road when around commercial trucks and big rigs. Mainly, it shows peak traffic hours to avoid if you can. Don’t run errands during rush hour, and be mindful of large trucks on the highway, especially during the week or summer.
There is also a major concentration of crashes in the largest cities of Oklahoma, like Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Please always pay extra attention to the road when you are driving through the city, especially near intersections.
If you are ever in a truck accident in Oklahoma and are seriously injured, then please remember that Fulmer Sill is here to help. Call (405) 433-7414 now to talk with someone from our firm about what happened, and we will let you know how we can help.
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