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Sep 1, 2002 12:00 PM

THE NUMBER of people killed in accidents involving large trucks declined 3.8% in 2001, compared to the year before, according to a study compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The fatality reduction follows similar occurrences in the 1999-2000 period. In 2000, deaths involving trucking accidents declined 3.1% from the previous year. The federal government has a goal to reduce truck traffic fatalities 50% by 2010.

Heavy-duty truck related fatalities dropped from 5,282 in 2000 to 5,082 in 2001, although there was an increase in deaths of people who were not in a vehicle, but were involved in the accident.

Department of Transportation officials contend that driver fatigue is a major cause of serious transportation accidents throughout the United States. In April, Marion Blakey, National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman, said, “Many times and throughout all modes of transportation, our investigations have found that lost sleep equals lost lives.”

The 2001-2000 statistics include:

• Truck occupants killed, 697 in 2001, compared with 754 in 2000, a 7.6% decrease.

• People killed who were not in vehicles, 438 in 2001, 414 in 2000, up 5.8%.

• People riding in vehicles other than trucks, 3,947 in 2001, 4,114 in 2000, down 4.1%.

The report includes information about injuries as well as fatalities. The only increase in injuries came as a result of multiple-vehicle accidents. In 2001, 16,000 people were injured in multiple-vehicle accidents, compared to 14,000 in 2000, a 14% increase.

Overall, there were 131,000 people injured in trucking accidents in 2001, down 6.4% from 140,000 during 2000. Also:

• Truck occupants injured numbered 29,000 in 2001, 31,000 in 2000, down 6.5%.

• People injured who were in other vehicles, 99,000 in 2001, 106,000 in 2000, down 6.6%.

• The data for people who were injured who were not in vehicles remains the same, 3,000 in both years.