Traffic Safety Fast Facts

Impaired driving is one of the most often committed crimes, randomly killing someone every 30 minutes and injuring someone every 2 minutes.

In 2005, 16- to 24-year-olds represented 24 percent of all traffic fatalities. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

On a per population basis, drivers under the age of 25 had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes of any age group. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Among female drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 25 percent were unrestrained at the time of the collision. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Among male drivers of passenger vehicles involved in fatal crashes in 2005, 38 percent were unrestrained at the time of the collision. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

On average, a pedestrian is killed in a motor vehicle crash every 108 minutes, and one is injured every 8 minutes. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Alcohol involvement was reported in 44 percent of the traffic crashes that resulted in pedestrian fatalities. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

In 2006, NHTSA conducted the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS). The overall observed shoulder belt use rate was 82 percent in 2005, compared to 80 percent observed in 2004. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Occupant Protection)

Grades 9-12: Percentage of students who had their first drink of alcohol (other than a few sips) before age 13 years - 19.7%

In 2005, of the 29,186 passenger vehicle occupant fatalities for which restraint use was known, 16,172 (55%) were unrestrained. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Occupant Protection)

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in North Dakota with a BAC of 0.08 or higher.

Research has found that lap/shoulder safety belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Occupant Protection)

Grades 9-12: Percentage of students who had at least one drink of alcohol on one or more of the past 30 days - 49%

All drivers are substantially impaired at 0.08 BAC. Especially with regard to critical driving tasks such as braking, steering, lane changing, judgement, and divided attention.

Grades 9-12: Percentage of students who had five or more drinks of alcohol in a row, that is, within a couple of hours, on one or more of the past 30 days - 33.8%

Grades 9-12: Percentage of students who rode in a car or other vehcile driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol one or more times during the past 30 days - 37.4%

75% of all crashes occur within 25 miles of home and on roads with a maximum speed limit of 40 mph or less.

Grades 9-12: Percentage of students who drove a car or other vehicle when they had been drinking alcohol one or more times during the past 30 days - 22.0%

Grades 7-8: Percentage of students who had their first drink of alcohol (other than a few sips) before age 11 years - 13.6%

Lap-shoulder belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat occupants by 45%.

Grades 7-8: Percentage of students who have had a drink of alcohol (other than a few sips) in the past 30 days - 16.5%

Grades 7-8: Percentage of students who have ridden in a car driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol in the past 30 days - 11.7%

In 2005, there were 43,433 total traffic fatalities and of these, 12,945 involved a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater).

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people from 3 to 33 years old.

Men are often larger in size than women and have larger livers and more body fluid to reduce the concentration of the alcohol and so become impaired less quickly.

About one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of driving under the influence are repeat offenders.

12 oz beer at 4-5% alcohol = 1 oz of 100 proof distilled spirits = 4 oz of 12% wine. Each contains ½ oz of pure or absolute alcohol. One wine cooler will have the same effect as two beers, two shots or two glasses of wine.

Drivers with multiple DUIs are 40% more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than those without prior DUIs.

Rate of drinking affects intoxication. If gulping drinks you will become impaired more quickly, since average metabolism is ½ oz pure alcohol per hour.

Approximately 1.4 million drivers were arrested in 2004 for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.

Being tired affects rate of intoxication.

During a typical weekend night, 1% of drivers will have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher.

Drinking alcohol in combination with sleeping pills, aspirin, prescription drugs, and/or illegal drugs can be dangerous.

Over half of alcohol-related traffic fatalities involve drivers with a BAC of .15% and above. (NHTSA, 2003)

If you have a BAL of .06 and take and over the counter antihistamine, you will drive with as much impairment as though you have a .10 BAL.

50-75% of drunk drivers whose licenses are suspended continue to drive.

32% of suspended second-time offenders and 61% of suspended third-time offenders received violations or were involved in crashes during their suspensions.

When drinking it is best to eat foods high in protein, such as meats, fish, eggs, or dairy products, since they stay in the stomach longer than other foods, slowing the absorption of alcohol.

In 2005, there were an estimated 6,159,000 police-reported traffic crashes, in which 43,443 people were killed and 2,699,000 people were injured. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

BAL of .40 and above can result in alcohol-induced coma and possible death.

In 2005, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel was 1.47. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

In North Dakota, it is illegal for those under the age of 21 to possess or consume alcohol.

The safety belt use rate nationwide is 82%. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Police have a fond saying: They rarely unbuckle a dead person.

In 2005, 43,443 people were killed in the estimated 6,159,000 police reported motor vehicle traffic crashes. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

A properly fitting safety belt sits low across the hips without riding up onto the stomach; and the shoulder part of the belt runs across the collarbone and chest, not against the neck or face.

In 2005, 43,443 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes - an increase of 0.1 percent from 2004 (42,836). (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for children age 4 to 14 years old. [National Center for Health Statistics]

An average of 119 persons died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2005 - one every 12 minutes. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Safety belt use rates increase an average of 15 percentage points after a state adopts a primary safety belt law.

Vehicle occupants accounted for 76 percent and motorcycle riders accounted for 10 percent of traffic fatalities in 2005. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Safety belt use isn't just a good idea: It's the law.

In 2005, it is estimated that 420 children under age 5 were saved as a result of child restraint use. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

In fatal crashes in 2005, 75 percent of passenger vehicle occupants who were totally ejected from the vehicle were killed. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Occupant Protection)

Nationally, on an average, one person is injured approximately every 2 minutes in alcohol-related crashes.

It is estimated that one out of five Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some point in their lives.

In 2005, 35 percent of passenger car occupants and 37 percent of lighttruck occupants involved in fatal crashes were unrestrained. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Every weeknight between 10:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m., one in 13 drivers is drunk.

In 2005, there were 16,885 fatalities in alcohol-related crashes. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Every weeknight between 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., one in 7 drivers is drunk.

In 2005, there were an average of one alcohol-related fatality every 31 minutes. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Binge Drinking is defined as five or more drinks at a time for men, four or more drinks for women.

In fatal crashes in 2005, 27 percent of motorcycle operators had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

North Dakota ranks first in Binge Drinking for teens.

In fatal crashes in 2005, the highest percentages of drivers with BAC levels .08 g/dL or higher were recorded for drivers 21-24 years old (32%, followed by ages 25-34 (28%) and 35-44 (23%). (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Compared with crashes of older drivers, those of 16 year olds more often involve driver error.

In 2005, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

16 Year old drivers have a higher rate of crashes in which excessive speed is a factor.

In 2005, 38 percent of the 15- to 20-year-old male drivers who were involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

More of the 16 year olds' fatal crashes involve only the teen's vehicle.

In 2005, 86 percent of speeding-related fatalities occurred on roads that were not Interstate highways. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Per mile driven, the nighttime fatal crash rate for 16 year olds is about twice as high as during the daytime.

In 2005, 42 percent of fatally injured motorcycle operators and 50 percent of fatally injured passengers were not wearing helmets at the time of the crash. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Drivers are responsible for all passengers 0-17.

The percentage of motorcycle operators involved in fatal crashes in 2005 who had BAC levels of .08 g/dL or higher was higher than for any type of motor vehicle driver. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

The penalty for not wearing a seat belt in the front seat is $20.00 if you are 18 and older.

Ejection from the vehicle accounted for 27 percent of all passenger vehicle occupant fatalities. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

The penalty for not wearing a seat belt in the front seat if you are 17 and under is 1 point added to your driver's record.

More than half (55%) of the passenger vehicle occupants killed in traffic crashes in 2005 were unrestrained. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)

Any driver failing to have a minor in a child restraint system or seatbelt will receive 1 point on their driving record.

SUVs had the highest rollover involvement rate of any vehicle type in fatal crashes - 35 percent. (NHTSA 2005 Traffic Safety Facts Overview)