Exploring the relationship between truck load capacity and traffic accidents in the European Union

•Analysis of differences in safety of different truck types using an EU-wide panel.•Increased truck load does not necessarily increase accidents/fatalities.•Heavy trucks are associated with fewer traffic accidents than light trucks.•Heavy trucks are associated with fewer traffic fatalities than medium trucks.•Negative truck load capacity-accidents and inverse U-shaped curve-fatalities relationships.

Applying econometric techniques to EU28 panel data and controlling for explanatory variables such as road types, we find that increased truck load capacity does not necessarily aggravate road traffic safety. Specifically, heavy trucks do not seem to be linked with greater numbers of traffic fatalities/accidents, medium trucks appear to be the worst performers in terms of fatalities, and light trucks seem to be the worst for accidents. In summary, our results clarify the complex relationship between truck load capacity and road safety, pointing to the existence of a negative correlation for accidents per capita and an inverse U-shaped curve for fatalities per capita.