U.S. traffic fatalities involving large trucks decreased last year to 5,307 from 5,362 in 1999, according to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
However, NHTSA reported an increase in fatalities involving light trucks and vans. A total of 11,439 people died in 2000 in crashes involving those vehicles, up from 11,243 the year before.
The report, based on the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and the National Automotive Sampling System General Estimates System, does not separate light trucks and vans used for commercial purposes from those used as passenger vehicles.
According to NHTSA, there were 41,800 deaths on U.S. roads, up from 41,611 in 1999. The number of people injured decreased to 3,219,000 from 3,236,000.
