Abstract
Heavy trucks are an integral part of the transportation system of the eighties. However, analyses of crashes from FARS, BMCS and North Carolina crash files indicate that heavy trucks pose great danger for occupants of vehicles with which they collide. Furthermore, during the past few years, fatal crash involvement rates have been dramatically increasing and in 1978, the rate was twice that of passenger cars. To account for the safety hazards associated with heavy trucks, three hypotheses have been suggested. Changes in design and in qualifying drivers are recommended to improve heavy truck safety.