1997 Crash Synopsis

Crashes, Injury Crashes and Fatal Crashes

• 54,952 motor vehicle crashes were reported, a 11% decrease from 1996
  
• 309 fatal motor vehicle crashes were reported, a 6% increase from 1996
  
• 44% of fatal crashes occurred between Memorial Day and Labor Day
  
• Sundays had nearly double the odds for a fatal crash than any other day of the week
  
• Head-on collisions were 16 times more likely to be fatal than other collision types
  
• Drivers cited for DUI were 4 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers cited for other violations
  
• Drivers cited for speeding were 2 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers cited for other violations
  
• Drivers between the age of 16 and 18 years old had double the rate of crashes per licensed driver
  
• Out of state drivers were involved in 9% of crashes and 19% of fatal crashes
  

Crash Participants, Injured Persons and Fatalities

• 366 crash related fatalities occurred, a 12% increase from 1996
  
• For every 85 persons injured in a motor vehicle crash, one person was killed
  
• Crash participants over the age of 65 years were 3 times more likely to be killed than all other age groups
  
• Children under the age of 10 years accounted for 67% of passengers killed in the cargo area
  

Pedestrian Crashes

• 969 pedestrians were involved in pedestrian-motor vehicle crashes
  
• 39 pedestrians were killed
  
• 56% of the fatal pedestrian crashes occurred between Memorial Day and Labor Day
  
• 52% of the pedestrians were under the age of 20 years
  
• 33% of the pedestrians killed were under the age of 20 years
  
• 20% of the drivers involved in pedestrian crashes were aged 15 to 19 years
  

Bicyclist-Motor Vehicle Crashes

• 879 bicyclists were involved in motor vehicle crashes and 3 were killed
  
• 27% of the motor vehicle drivers involved in bicyclist-motor vehicle crashes were 15 to 24 years of age
  

Motorcycle Crashes

• There were 694 crashes that involved motorcycles
  
• 23 (3%) of motorcycle crashes were fatal resulting in 22 motorcyclist fatalities and one pedestrian fatality
  
• 94% of the motorcyclists in crashes were male
  
• Motorcycle drivers accounted for 87% of motorcyclists fatalities
  
• 22% of motorcyclists involved in crashes were wearing a helmet
  

Young Driver Crashes

• 9,561 crashes  and 23 fatal crashes involved a young driver
  
• Nearly 53.5% of all young drivers involved in a crash received a citation for a violation compared to 35.8% of all drivers involved in a crash 
  
• 26% of young driver fatal crashes were head-on collisions compared to 11% of all fatal crashes
  

Drug / Alcohol Related Crashes

• 1,862 (3%) crashes and 70 (23%) fatal crashes involved drugs or alcohol
  
• 88 fatalities were a result of a drug or alcohol related crash
  
• 72% of drunk drivers involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08
  

Speed Related Crashes

• 8,059 (15%) crashes and 105 (34%) fatal crashes were speed related
  
• 120 person were killed in speed related crashes
  
• The majority of drivers involved in speed related crashes were males aged 15 to 19 years
  

Belt Use

• 87% of all crash participants, 76% of injured crash participants and 40% of the fatalities were reported as using a seat belt
  
• Unbelted occupants were 10 times more likely to be killed than belted occupants
  
• Children ages 2 to 4 years old were 7 times less likely to be in a car safety seat than children under the age of 2 years