Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Transportation Accidents Most Common Work Fatality

Work deaths climbed 7% in 2016, and transportation incidents accounted for 40% of those fatalities, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

by Staff
December 29, 2017
Transportation Accidents Most Common Work Fatality

Photo of car crash by CGP Grey via Wikimedia Commons.

2 min to read


Photo of car crash by CGP Grey via Wikimedia Commons.

Fatal work injuries reached 5,190 in 2016, representing a 7% increase from the previous year, according to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Ad Loading...

2016 saw the third consecutive annual jump in fatal work injuries. The year also marked the first time in nearly a decade that the number of work-related deaths surpassed 5,000.

Ad Loading...

Transportation accidents remained the most common cause of work deaths, accounting for 40% of the fatalities. Such incidents were responsible for 2,083 fatalities in 2016, according to the bureau.

Violence committed by people or animals increased 23% to become the second-leading cause of work-related deaths. Such violence accounted for 866 deaths. Workplace homicides increased by 83 to reach 500. Workplace suicides increased by 62 to reach 291.

On-the-job overdoses from non-medical use of drugs or alcohol jumped from 165 in 2015 to 217 in 2016 — a 32-% increase. Since 2012, overdose fatalities have risen by at least 25% annually, statistics show.

Fall, slip and trip deaths increased 6%, totaling 849 deaths.

In 2016, fatal overdoses from the non-medical use of drugs or alcohol while on the job increased 32 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Photo by 51fifty via Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.

In response to the new data, the National Safety Council called on employers to ensure they have policies and training in place to address the major causes of work-related fatalities — including the ongoing opioid crisis and worker fatigue.

Ad Loading...

“Leadership should set the tone from the top and engage all workers in safety, continually looking to identify and mitigate workplace safety hazards and measuring safety performance using leading indicators to ensure continuous improvement,” NSC said in a released statement.

Originally posted on Automotive Fleet

More Safety

A shot of a Volvo electric vehicle with a man charging it in front of a residence.
SponsoredAugust 1, 2026

Top 50 Executive Fleets

It is that time of year again! Time for the 2026 list of the Top 50 Executive Fleets, presented by Automotive Fleet and Volvo as part of its annual Fleet 500. Download now to see this year's list of companies!

Read More →
Promotional image announcing a partnership between TRUCE and Applause, featuring a driver’s hands on a steering wheel to represent connected fleet technology, driver safety, and mobile device management.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJuly 30, 2026

Applause & TRUCE Software Partner to Improve Driver Safety Through AI-Powered Telematics & Employee Performance Management

Applause has integrated TRUCE driving metrics directly into its employee-first performance and safety platform that transforms mobile devices into AI-powered telematics.

Read More →
Work Truck “Trucks, Tips & Tours” promotional graphic featuring a vocational truck approaching a crash-test vehicle, highlighting Detroit Assurance collision mitigation technology with the headline “Collision Mitigation Explained.”
Safetyby Wayne ParhamJuly 21, 2026

How Detroit Assurance with Active Brake Assist Works

Do you want to see what it is like to experience Detroit Assurance’s Active Brake Assist? In this video, Work Truck will put you in the cab to see how it all works and then hear more details from DTNA’s Mike Young.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black graphic with large white text reading “Stop Workplace Violence” framed by blue accent lines.
SafetyJuly 21, 2026

Get Left of Loss: A 5-Step Workplace Prevention Framework for Fleet Operators

Violence risks do not stop at the driver’s door. Learn five practical steps fleets can take to spot threats early and protect workers before loss occurs.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a Utilimarc guide titled How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48% featuring a call-to-action to download the guide.
SponsoredJuly 17, 2026

How Better Visibility Cut Speeding Violations by 48%

Fleet leaders don't need more data, they need clearer visibility into what the data is saying. This case study explores how one utility replaced speeding-event counts with a single metric — miles driven in violation — to strengthen safety and significantly reduce speeding violations.

Read More →
Commercial truck driver wearing a red seat belt smiles from the driver’s seat of a blue truck.
Safetyby StaffJuly 15, 2026

13 Safe Driving Tips for Commercial Vehicle Drivers

Make sure you are spending time on the road safely with these important tips.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Pavement background with double yellow lines and large text that says Recall, July, and Work Truck logo.
Safetyby Wayne ParhamJuly 10, 2026

Recalls You Need to Know About in July 2026

If you have Altec, Ford, General Motors, Harbinger, Hyundai, Mack Trucks, or Volvo Trucks vehicles in your fleet, you should check these important recalls issued by the National Highway Safety Administration.

Read More →
Illustration of a human hand reaching toward a robotic hand over an aerial view of a city at dusk, with interconnected location pins and network lines symbolizing AI, telematics, connected fleet technology, and data-driven transportation.
SafetyJuly 6, 2026

How Telematics Is Transforming Fleet Risk from Insight to Action

What if you could spot risky driving before it leads to a crash? See how telematics is still changing fleet safety today.

Read More →
View from inside a commercial truck cab showing a driver at the wheel with a large marijuana leaf overlaid by a red prohibition symbol, illustrating DOT restrictions on marijuana use for commercial drivers.
Safetyby Kathy CloseJuly 2, 2026

DOT Rules Remain Firmly Lit on Marijuana

DOT says not so fast on marijuana. Even with federal reclassification efforts, commercial drivers in safety-sensitive roles remain subject to marijuana testing and prohibitions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
LytxOne promotional graphic featuring an in-cab dash camera and icons representing analytics, search, recording, video, reporting, driver performance, fuel, and location. Headline reads, “New Features Available Now.”
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJuly 1, 2026

Lytx Adds Fleet Management Enhancements to LytxOne Platform

Lytx has added new features to LytxOne to bring safety, operational insight, asset visibility, and compliance into a unified, all-in-one platform.

Read More →