Traffic Safety Facts
for the year 2000

	Traffic fatalities account for more than 90 percent of transportation-related fatalities.
	In 2000, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel fell to a new historic low of 1.5, down from 1.6, the rate from 1997 to 1999.
	The nationwide safety belt use rate is 71%.
	In 2000, 41,821 people were killed in the estimated 6,394,000 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes; 3,189,000 people were injured; and 4,286,000 crashes involved property damage only.
	An average of 115 died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2000 – one every 13 minutes.
	In 2000, 41,821 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes – an increase of 0.2 percent from 1999.
	Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for every age from 4 through 33 years old.
	From 1975 through 2000, it is estimated that safety belts saved 135,102 lives, including 11,889 lives saved in 2000.
	Alcohol-related traffic fatalities rose to 16,653 in 2000 – 40 percent of all traffic fatalities for the year.
	Approximately 1.5 million drivers were arrested in 1999 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. This is an arrest rate of 1 for every 121 licensed drivers in the United States (2000 data not yet available).
	About 3 in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.
	Intoxication rates for drivers in fatal crashes in 2000 were 27 percent for motorcycles, 20 percent for light trucks, 19 percent for passenger cars, and 1 percent for large trucks.
	The economic cost of speeding-related crashes is estimated to be $27.4 billion each year.
	In 2000, 85 percent of speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were not Interstate highways.
	In 2000, 34 percent of the male drivers 15 to 20 years old who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.
	Speeding involvement for motorcyclists in fatal crashes was twice as high as for car and light truck drivers.
	Per vehicle mile traveled in 1999, motorcyclist were 18 times as likely as passenger car occupants to die in a motor vehicle traffic crash and 3 times as likely to be injured.
	In 2000, 45 percent of fatally injured motorcycle operators and 52 percent of fatally injured passengers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash.
	Ejection from the vehicle accounted for 28 percent of all passenger vehicle occupant fatalities.
	Nearly two thirds of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes in 2000 were unrestrained.
	Utility vehicles had the highest rollover involvement rate of any vehicle type in fatal crashes – 36 percent, as compared with 24 percent for pickups, 19 percent for vans, and 15 percent for passenger cars.
	Utility vehicles also had the highest rollover rate for passenger vehicles in injury crashes – 12 percent, compared with 7 percent for pickups, 4 percent for vans, and 3 percent for passenger cars.
	In 2000, older people made up 9 percent of the resident population but accounted for 13 percent of all traffic fatalities and 17 percent of all pedestrian fatalities.
	When driver fatality rates are calculated on the basis of estimated annual travel, the highest rates are found among the youngest and oldest drivers. Compared with the fatality rate for drivers 25 through 69 years old, the rate for teenage drivers is about 4 times as high, and the rate for drivers in the oldest group is 9 times as high.
	In 2000, 16 to 24 year-olds represented 24 percent of all traffic fatalities, compared with 7 percent for ages 0 to 15, 45 percent for ages 25 to 54, and 24 percent for ages 55 and over.
	Passenger vehicle occupants 10 to 24 years old involved in fatal crashes had the lowest restraint use rate (49 percent), and those over age 65 had the highest rate (69 percent).
	The intoxication rate for male drivers involved in fatal crashes was 20 percent, compared with 11 percent for female drivers.
	Among female drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2000, 29 percent were unrestrained at the time of the collision, compared with 43 percent of male drivers in fatal crashes.

Source: "Traffic Safety Facts 2000" NHTSA DOT HS 809 329