Pickup truck drivers - crash injuries, Oklahoma, 2007.

              Data Linkage Results
Pickup Truck Drivers – Crash Injuries, Oklahoma, 2007
http://ips.health.ok.gov November 2010
Pickup truck drivers were identified from the 2007 linked
Traffic Data Linkage Project (TDLP) database as all crash
incidents where the persons’ occupancy status was a
driver and the vehicle type was a pickup truck. This report
includes all drivers of a pickup truck who were hospitalized
or died as a result of crashes on public roadways.
• Of a total 75,059 traffic crashes in Oklahoma in 2007,
26,983 (36%) involved a pickup truck.
• From 2000 to 2007, the number of pickup drivers who
died increased by 24% (Figure 1).
• There was a total of 722 injured pickup drivers in 713
crashes in 2007; 81% were male and 19% were female.
o 130 died
o 592 were hospitalized and survived
o 44% were involved in single vehicle crashes and
56% were multi-vehicle.
• The median age of drivers was 45 years. The number of
injured males was over four times that of females. The
highest number occurred among male drivers 20-29 and
40-49 years of age (Figure 2).
• Information on inpatient hospital charges was available
for 588 nonfatally injured persons. The overall total
hospital charges were $26.9 million (median $23,628).
• Seat belt use status was known for 664 pickup drivers.
Of these, 34% were not restrained.
• Seventy-four percent of pickup drivers who survived were
wearing a seat belt versus 33% of those who died.
• Ejection from vehicle status was known for 710 drivers.
Nine percent were totally ejected from the vehicle during
the crash; 3% were partially ejected. Of the 89 persons
who were partially or totally ejected, 94% were not
wearing a seat belt.
• The proportion of injured pickup drivers was highest
between noon and 8:00 p.m. and in April and May
(Figures 3-4).
Characteristics of Drivers by Vehicle Type
Crash and personal factors for pickup truck drivers were
examined and compared to drivers of other vehicles
including passenger cars, vans, and sport utility vehicles
(SUVs) (Table 1, Figure 5).
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
15-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70-79 80-94
Number of drivers injured
Age Group
Figure 2. Injured Pickup Drivers by Age
Group and Gender, Oklahoma, 2007
Males Females
105 109
118 126 117
138 139 130
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Number of drivers injured
Year of Injury
Figure 1. Fatally Injured Pickup Drivers by
Year, Oklahoma, 2000-2007