Traffic Fatalities
With strong programs emphasizing safety, education, and infrastructure, the Hampton Roads region has consistently maintained a traffic fatality rate below the state and national averages.
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, especially since many of these tragic losses could have been prevented.
How is Hampton Roads Doing?
The Hampton Roads region's 2010 rate of 6.8 fatalities per 100,000 population was lower than the state average of 9.2. Only the Northern region had a lower rate at 5.2 fatalities per 100,000 people.
Alcohol clearly influences the traffic fatality rate. In Virginia, the Hampton Roads region had the second-lowest rate of alcohol-related fatalities in 2009 at 2.9 deaths per 100,000 people. However, the percent of total fatalities that were alcohol-related was 40 percent, the second highest in the state.
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. Use of cell phones, grooming while driving, or disruptive behavior by passengers can also affect driver alertness and response time. Age is another possible 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.
Environmental conditions also contribute to traffic fatalities. Weather like heavy rain, sleet and snow increase the hazards of driving, as do roads in disrepair. Maintaining safe driving speeds is also critical. Even traffic congestion can affect road safety.
Finally, vehicle safety can play a large role. Seat belts, car seats for small children, and passive restraint systems such as air bags have all improved auto safety. However, drivers must still ensure that passengers use seat belts and car seats and that air bags are properly installed.
Data Definitions and Sources
Traffic fatality data download from: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics & Analysis, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), Web-Based Encyclopedia
A traffic fatality is defined as a fatal injury resulting from a road vehicle accident. This is recorded as the underlying cause of death in the medical certification part of the death certificate.
An alcohol-related crash fatality is defined as a death resulting from a crash involving a driver with at a BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) of .01 or greater.
Additional data from U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Safety Administration "Traffic Safety Facts 2009."
See the Data Sources and Updates Calendar for a detailed list of the data resources used for indicator measures on Hampton Roads Performs.
