While the number of people who died in traffic crashes declined in 2022, the number who died in crashes involving large trucks increased, according to the latest figures reported by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
There were 716 fewer people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways during 2022, a 1.7% decrease from 43,230 in 2021 to 42,514 in 2022.
However, NHTSA reported 5,936 people were killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2022, up from 5,821 in 2021. The number of large-truck occupants who died in crashes in 2022 increased by 8.5% to 1,097 fatalities.
The agency defines large trucks as commercial and non-commercial trucks with GVWRs of over 10,000 pounds.
Other vehicle occupants killed in crashes with large trucks decreased by just 0.2% to 4,167. Non-occupants (motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists and others) killed in crashes involving large trucks increased by 6% from 2021 to a total of 672.
Additionally, the number of people injured in crashes involving large trucks also increased by 5,795 year-over-year -- a 3.7% increase -- to 160,608. There were 41,874 large-truck occupants injured in crashes (down 0.7% from 2021) and 118,735 other vehicle occupants and non-occupants injured (up 5.4% from 2021).
