Truck accident statistics for Howard County, Maryland (2020-2024)

Truck accident deaths in Howard County by year

Truck accident deaths rose from 3 in 2020 to 5 in 2021 and 7 in 2022. They fell to 2 in 2023 before rising to 5 in 2024. The highest count was 7 in 2022, and the lowest was 2 in 2023. The 2024 count was 2 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The corresponding shares of all traffic deaths were 10.3%, 15.2%, 24.1%, 8.7% and 23.8%, respectively. All traffic deaths numbered 29 in 2020, 33 in 2021, 29 in 2022, 23 in 2023 and 21 in 2024. Across the period, the annual average was 4.4 truck accident deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Howard County truck accidents

People in other vehicles accounted for 16 deaths, or 72.7%, the largest person category in Howard County's truck accident figures. People in the large truck accounted for 1 death, or 4.5%. The row "Pedestrians, bicyclists and other people outside vehicles" recorded 5 deaths, or 22.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The FARS nonoccupant grouping is what that quoted label represents; it includes pedestrians, pedalcyclists and other or unknown nonoccupants. Whether someone was outside a vehicle is not literally tested by this grouping: occupants of motor vehicles not in transport, such as parked vehicles, can fall within the other category.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The trucks involved

The vehicle records identify 24 large trucks in fatal crashes in Howard County from 2020 through 2024. Truck-tractors, described as semi or tractor-trailer units, numbered 14 and represented 58.3% of those trucks. Single-unit and other large trucks numbered 10. Large trucks recorded as jackknifed numbered 0.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

These are vehicle counts, distinct from the 22 fatal crashes and 22 truck accident deaths recorded for the period. A crash can involve multiple large trucks. For readers searching "truck accident lawyer," keep the vehicle counts separate from the crash and death counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][8][7]}

Counts are trucks, not crashes. One crash can involve more than one large truck.

How the fatal truck crashes happened

Rear-end collisions accounted for 10 deaths, or 45.5%; angle (side impact) collisions for 4, or 18.2%; head-on collisions for 2, or 9.1%; and sideswipes for 1, or 4.5%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. "Not a collision with another moving vehicle" recorded 5 deaths, or 22.7%. It means no collision with a motor vehicle in transport, which can include a vehicle stopped in traffic. Examples include striking a pedestrian or parked vehicle, or a rollover.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Separately, truck accident deaths by crash configuration were single-vehicle: 4, or 18.2%; two-vehicle: 12, or 54.5%; and three or more vehicles: 6, or 27.3%. These shares describe vehicle involvement, distinct from manner of collision.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Interstates, time of day and setting

Interstate truck accident deaths numbered 11, or 50.0%. The listed route-coded counts were 7 deaths on I-95 and 4 on I-70. These figures require ROUTE=1 and a parseable interstate route number in TWAY_ID; the listed routes are a coded subset, not a full road network.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 4 deaths, or 18.2%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 18, or 81.8%. Urban records accounted for 21 deaths, or 95.5%, and rural records for 1, or 4.5%. Work-zone records counted 1 death. These figures count people who died, not trucks or crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Truck accident death rate compared with Maryland and the United States

Howard County's truck accident death rate was 1.3 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Maryland's rate was 1.0, and the United States rate was 1.6. The county rate was higher than the state rate and lower than the national rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Prince George's County and Baltimore County each had a rate of 0.8. Frederick County had the highest rate at 1.7, while Anne Arundel County had the lowest at 0.7. Each rate uses deaths divided by the sum of annual population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. These truck accident rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. It includes crashes involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public when an occupant or nonoccupant dies within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County counts follow crash location, not where those who died lived.^[9][6][7][8]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[9][6][7][8]

See also

• Truck accident statistics for Anne Arundel County, Maryland (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Baltimore County, Maryland (2020-2024)
• Truck accident statistics for Frederick County, Maryland (2020-2024)