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August 4, 2000 9:20 AM, EDT

A Pennsylvania legislative panel blamed an increase in fatal crashes involving trucks in part on dwindling inspection numbers and not enough spending on truck safety.

A report released in late July by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee noted that the rate of truck crashes for every mile traveled is down, but fatalities remain high.

The panel found fault with many aspects of the state’s truck safety programs and recommended ways to make them better, including more enforcement and additional fines.

There were 234 people killed in crashes involving trucks over 10,000 pounds in Pennsylvania in 1999 compared with 192 in 1998, a 22% increase.

For the full story, see the Aug. 7 print edition of Transport Topics. .