NATIONAL CRASH STATISTICS FOR 2009
33,808 people died and 2.22 million people were injured
There were 5.5 million crashes across the country, 28% resulted in injury and .6% were fatal crashes
Of the fatalities, 63% of the numbers were drivers, 28% were passengers, 4% were motorcyclists, 3% were pedestrians, and 2% were pedal cyclists
- Fatalities decreased 9.9% Injury rate decreased 6.3% since 2008
- Motorcycle deaths decreased for the first time in 5 years
- 32% of the fatal crashes involved alcohol; in 1982 it was 48%
- Midnight to 3 am is the most dangerous time for alcohol related crashes 66%
- 61% of all fatal crashes involve one vehicle compared with 32% of injury crashes and 32% of property damage crashes
- Nearly half of all fatalities in 2009 occurred on roads with 55mph posted speeds compared with 23% of injury and property collisions
- Most dangerous month is August
- Most fatal crashes are collisions at an angle; head on collisions are second
- Per 100,000 population, 21-24 year olds have the highest fatality rate; 16 -20 year olds had the highest injury rate.
- Seatbelt use is the lowest among younger people and males. In 2009, 81% of 16-24 year olds in the front seat were observed using their belts compared with 84% of those 25-69 years old and 86% of those 70 and older. 87% of female front seat occupants were observed using their belts compared with 81% of males
- Michigan had the highest rate of observed seatbelt use at 98% and Wyoming had the worst at 67.6%
This information was copied from the following report of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811402.pdf
More statistic can be found on the following websites
National Motor vehicle crash statistics from 1990 – 2009
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1103.pdf
National Speeding related crash statistics for 2009
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1108.pdf
Crashes by severity 1990 - 2009 Alcohol involvement for drivers in fatal crashes
1999-2009 Licensed drivers and number of crashes by age http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s1113.pdf
For more information on driving laws and statistics go to the following website
AAA Resource for Driving laws in North America
The AAA Digest of Motor Laws is an online compendium
of laws and rules related to driving and owning a motor
vehicle in the United States and Canada