Virginia Performs

Public Safety

Traffic Fatalities

With strong programs emphasizing safety, education and infrastructure, Virginia has consistently maintained a traffic fatality rate below the national average, ranking 19th among the states. No number of traffic fatalities is low enough, however, and the state continues to explore new ways to avoid this tragic loss of life.

Why is This Important?

Traffic fatalities are a leading cause of death, especially for young people between the ages of four and 34. The "years of life lost" as a result of these terrible events make their social costs particularly high. Many of these tragic losses could have been prevented.

How is Virginia Doing?

Virginia's 2006 rate of 12.6 fatalities per 100,000 population was lower than the national average of 14.2 and gives Virginia the 19th lowest fatality rate among the states. The rate was also lower than two of its peers, North Carolina (17.6) and Tennessee (21.3), but slightly higher than Maryland (11.6). Massachusetts had the lowest fatality rate at 6.7 per 100,000 people. However, preliminary results for 2007 show an increase in traffic fatalities in Virginia from 963 in 2006 to 1,014 in 2007, the highest number of traffic fatalities in more than a decade.

Within Virginia, the Hampton Roads and Northern regions had the lowest average rates of traffic fatalities per 100,000 population. In 2006, the Eastern region had the highest rate of fatalities with 29.3 per 100,000 population, while the Northern region had the lowest rate at 7.8.

Alcohol clearly influences Virginia's traffic fatality rate. Alcohol-related fatalities as a percent of total crash fatalities have declined slightly since 1994. In 1994, 41 percent of the crash fatalities involved alcohol, while in 2006, 39 percent involved alcohol. The Eastern region had the highest percent of fatalities that were related to alcohol at 44.2 percent, while the Valley region had the lowest percent of alcohol-related crash fatalities, 32.1 percent, in 2006.

What Influences Traffic Fatalities?

Traffic fatalities are influenced by driver behavior, environmental factors, and vehicle safety. As noted above, substance abuse is a major contributing factor. A growing concern is the impact of sleep deprivation on driver alertness, especially for persons driving over long periods of time. Drivers also may be distracted by cell phones, grooming while driving, or other passengers. Age can also be a contributing factor. Young drivers may lack the skills and experience to anticipate or adjust to traffic problems appropriately. Senior drivers are less able to react quickly to sudden traffic situations, particularly at intersections. This may be a growing concern as our population ages.

Environmental conditions also contribute to traffic fatalities. Weather conditions may negatively impact road surfaces. Likewise, the physical structure or a state of disrepair may make a road hazardous. Speed management also is critical, even in the best of road conditions. Traffic congestion may impact road safety.

Finally, vehicle safety can play a large role. Safety has improved with the inclusion of seat belts, car seats for small children, and passive restraint systems such as air bags. Still, passengers must ensure that their vehicles are equipped with passive systems, that safety seats are properly installed, and that seat belts are used. Likewise, drivers must insure that their vehicles are operating properly to reduce the chance of mechanical failure.

What is the State's Role?

While driver behavior has a major impact on traffic safety, the state plays a critical and wide-ranging role in preventing traffic fatalities.

• Numerous state agencies and local partners work to reduce substance abuse and drunk driving.
• Law enforcement is involved in reducing speeding, drunk driving, aggressive driving, and offering motorist assistance.
• Motor vehicle inspections help to ensure the proper mechanical operation of vehicles.
• Transportation workers set speed limits, plan and maintain Virginia's roads, and provide signage to alert drivers to road hazards.
• Health campaigns raise awareness of good driver and passenger behavior, as well as offering child safety seats to those who cannot afford them.
• Many local partners offer free inspections to ensure that child safety seats are properly installed.
• State agencies and public and private schools are involved in driver training and safe driving awareness activities.
• State laws target impaired driving, excessive speed and aggression, and vehicle safety and restraint.

The coming challenge is to engineer safety through design, developing and using technology to improve safety.