Auto Rental News
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.

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 Rental Operations

Scenes from Car Rental Shows past
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 23, 2026

ICRS 2027 Opens Call for Papers

The International Car Rental Show seeks session proposals on the business, operational, and technology issues facing car rental operators. Submissions are due Jan. 15.

Read More →
hand holding phone and Turo logo
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 21, 2026

Turo to Launch Vehicle Delivery Service

Turo Delivered will let travelers search for vehicles that hosts can deliver directly to hotels, homes, airports, train stations, and other locations.

Read More →
plane, palm trees, car rental sign
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 15, 2026

Palm Beach Airport Code Change Creates Car Rental Distribution Gap

A test of rental searches under the old PBI and new DJT airport codes returned largely different sets of brands and vehicles, highlighting a potential distribution problem for rental operators.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Team members of U-Save's new franchise
Rental Operations•by Staff•September 15, 2026

U-Save Continues Dominican Republic Expansion with Launch in Punta Cana

The new franchise location builds on U-Save’s existing Santo Domingo operation and will begin taking reservations for October 2026.

Read More →
A traveler searches for rental cars with an AI bot
Rental Operations•September 14, 2026

When AI Books the Rental Car, Who Controls the Sale?

As AI moves from comparing rental rates to completing transactions, operators need to understand how travelers find, interpret, rank, and ultimately see their offers. (Part 2 of 2.)

Read More →
map of europe and summer car rental rates
Rental Operations•September 11, 2026

European Booked Car Rental Rates Fell 5%, Results Varied by Country

Ireland, Cyprus, and the United Kingdom saw steep declines, while booked rates rose in Poland and Hungary.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
thumbnail of Chris Brown and Mike DeLorenzo with title Time to Rethink Rental Categories?
Rental Operations•by Chris Brown•September 8, 2026

Is It Time to Rethink Rental Categories?

As traditional economy and compact cars disappear from the market, longtime rental operator Mike DeLorenzo asks whether the industry’s familiar vehicle categories still make sense — and what operators need to rethink along with them.

Read More →
Woman receiving car rental rates on computer from AI agent
Rental Operations•September 1, 2026

Who Owns the Rate? AI Is Creating a New Distribution Problem for Car Rental

Generative Engine Optimization asks whether AI can find a rental company, but operators also need to know whether the agent inspected enough of the market, compared equivalent offers, and presented a rate the traveler can actually book. (Part 1 of 2)

Read More →
map of globe with regional corporate car rental rates
Rental Operations•by Staff•August 25, 2026

U.S. Business Travel Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise Up to 2%

Improved fleet supply should limit pricing gains in 2026-27, while insurance, repair costs, and softer residual values continue to pressure rental operations, according to Amex GBT.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Sixt H1 financial results
Rental Operations•by Staff•August 14, 2026

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026

Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.

Read More →
Ad Loading...