DOT HS 809 775
January 2005

Information on motor vehicle crashes is available from the National Center for Statistics and Analysis, NPO-121, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. NCSA information can also be obtained by telephone or by fax-on-demand at 800-934-8517. FAX messages should be sent to 202-366-7078. To report a safety-related problem or to inquire about motor vehicle safety information, call the Auto Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236. General information on highway traffic safety, which can be accessed by Internet users at web site http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/ncsa, includes the following annual NCSA fact sheets: Overview, Alcohol, Occupant Protection, Older Population, Speeding, Children, Young Drivers, Pedestrians, Pedalcyclists, Motorcycles, Large Trucks, School Transportation-Related Crashes, State Traffic Data, and State Alcohol Estimates.

Contents

2003 National Statistics

Administrator’s Message

Introduction

FARS Operations

GES Operations

About This Report

Data Availability

Chapter 1. Trends

      Chapter 1 Tables and Figures

Chapter 2. Crashes

      Chapter 2 Tables and Figures

Chapter 3. Vehicles

      Chapter 3 Tables and Figures

Chapter 4. People

      Chapter 4 Tables and Figures

Chapter 5. States

      Chapter 5 Tables and Figures

Appendix A. FARS Data Elements

Appendix B. GES Data Elements

Appendix C. GES Technical Notes

Glossary

Figure 1. Fatal Crashes, 1975-2003

Table 1. Crashes by Crash Severity, 1988-2003

Table 2. Persons Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Population, Licensed Drivers, Registered Vehicles, and Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1966-2003

Figure 2. Motor Vehicle Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1966-2003

Table 3. Vehicles Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per Vehicle Miles of Travel and per Registered Vehicle by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity, 1975-2003

Table 4. Persons Killed or Injured by Person Type and Vehicle Type, 1975-2003

Table 5. Drivers Involved in Crashes and Involvement Rates per Licensed Driver by Sex and Crash Severity, 1975-2003

Figure 3. Driver Involvement Rate per 100,000 Licensed Drivers 16 Years and Older by Sex and Crash Severity, 1975-2003

Trends: Occupants

Table 6. Motor Vehicle Occupant and Motorcycle Rider Fatality and Injury Rates per Population by Age Group, 1975-2003

Table 7. Passenger Car Occupants Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered Vehicle and Vehicle Miles of Travel, 1975-2003

Figure 4. Passenger Car Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1975-2003

Table 8. Light Truck Occupants Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered Vehicle and Vehicle Miles of Travel, 1975-2003

Figure 5. Light Truck Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1975-2003

Table 9. Large Truck Occupants Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered Vehicle and Vehicle Miles of Travel, 1975-2003

Figure 6. Large Truck Occupant Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1975-2003

Table 10. Motorcycle Riders Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per Registered Vehicle and Vehicle Miles of Travel, 1975-2003

Figure 7. Motorcycle Rider Fatality and Injury Rates per 100 Million Vehicle Miles Traveled, 1975-2003

Trends: Large Truck Related

Table 11. Persons Killed or Injured in Crashes Involving a Large Truck by Person Type and Crash Type, 1975-2003

Trends: Nonmotorists

Table 12. Nonmotorist Fatality and Injury Rates per Population by Age Group, 1975-2003

Trends: Alcohol

Table 13. Persons Killed, by Highest Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the Crash, 1982-2003

Figure 8. Proportion of Persons Killed, by Highest Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the Crash, 1982-2003

Table 14. Persons Killed and Percent Alcohol-Related During Holiday Periods, 1982-2003

Table 15. Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Time of Day, 1982-2003

Table 16. Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Sex, 1982-2003

Table 17. Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Vehicle Type, 1982-2003

Figure 9. Proportion of Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes with BAC = 0.08+ by Vehicle Type, 1982-2003

Table 18. Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Age, 1982-2003

Figure 10. Proportion of Drivers in Fatal Crashes with BAC = 0.08+ by Age, 1982-2003

Table 19. Drivers in Fatal Crashes by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) and Survival Status, 1982-2003

Table 20. Pedestrians Killed, 14 Years and Older, by Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), 1982-2003

Table 21. Drivers of Passenger Cars and Light Trucks in Crashes by Crash Severity and Restraint Use, 1975-2003

Table 22. Occupants of Passenger Cars and Light Trucks Killed and Injured, by Restraint Use, 1975-2003

Chapter 2. Crashes

Crashes: Time

Table 23. Crashes and Crash Rates by Month and Crash Severity

Table 24. Crashes by Time of Day, Day of Week, and Crash Severity

Figure 11. Average Fatal Crashes per Hour by Time of Day, Weekdays and Weekends

Table 25. Crashes by Weather Condition, Light Condition, and Crash Severity

Table 26. Fatal Crashes by Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Response Times Within Designated Minutes and by Land Use

Crashes: Location

Table 27. Crashes by Crash Type, Relation to Roadway, and Crash Severity

Table 28. Crashes by Relation to Junction, Traffic Control Device, and Crash Severity

Table 29. Crashes by Speed Limit, Crash Type, and Crash Severity

Table 30. Fatal Crashes by Speed Limit and Land Use

Figure 12. Percent of Fatal Crashes by Speed Limit and Land Use

Table 31. Crashes by Number of Lanes, Trafficway Flow, and Crash Severity

Crashes: Circumstances

Table 32. Crashes by First Harmful Event, Manner of Collision, and Crash Severity

Table 33. Two-Vehicle Crashes by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity

Crashes: Alcohol

Table 34. Crashes and Percent Alcohol Related by Time of Day, Crash Type, and Crash Severity

Figure 13. Percent of Crashes Alcohol Related, by Time of Day and Crash Severity

Chapter 3. Vehicles

Vehicles: All Vehicles

Table 35. Vehicles Involved in Crashes by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity

Figure 14. Proportion of Vehicles Involved in Traffic Crashes

Table 36. Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by Body Type

Table 37. Vehicles Involved in Crashes by Vehicle Type, Rollover Occurrence, and Crash Severity

Figure 15. Percent Rollover Occurrence by Vehicle Type and Crash Severity

Table 38. Vehicles Involved in Crashes by Vehicle Type, Fire Occurrence, and Crash Severity

Table 39. Vehicles Involved in Single- and Two-Vehicle Crashes by Vehicle Maneuver and Crash Severity

Table 40. Vehicles Involved in Fatal Crashes by Roadway Function Class, Crash Type, and Hazardous Cargo

Figure 16. Percent of Vehicles in Crashes by Most Harmful Event and Vehicle Type

Figure 17. Percent of Vehicles in Crashes by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Type, and Vehicle Type

Vehicles: Passenger Cars

Table 41. Passenger Cars Involved in Crashes by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity

Table 42. Passenger Cars Involved in Crashes by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity, and Crash Type

Vehicles: Light Trucks

Table 43. Light Trucks Involved in Crashes by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity

Table 44. Light Trucks Involved in Crashes by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity, and Crash Type

Vehicles: Large Trucks

Table 45. Large Trucks Involved in Crashes by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity

Table 46. Large Trucks Involved in Crashes by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity, and Crash Type

Table 47. Large Trucks Involved in Crashes by Truck Type, Rollover Occurrence, and Crash Severity

Table 48. Truck Tractors with Trailers Involved in Crashes by Number of Trailers, Jackknife Occurrence, and Crash Severity

Vehicles: Motorcycles

Table 49. Motorcycles Involved in Crashes by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity

Table 50. Motorcycles Involved in Crashes by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity, and Crash Type

Vehicles: Buses

Table 51. Buses Involved in Crashes by Most Harmful Event and Crash Severity

Table 52. Buses Involved in Crashes by Initial Point of Impact, Crash Severity, and Crash Type

Chapter 4. People

People: All Victims

Table 53. Persons Killed or Injured, by Person Type and Injury Severity

Table 54. Persons Killed or Injured, by Age and Injury Severity

Table 55. Persons Killed or Injured, by Sex and Injury Severity

Figure 18. Percent of Persons Killed or Injured, by Age

Table 56. Persons Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000 Population by Age and Sex

Figure 19. Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000 Population by Age and Sex

Table 57. Persons Killed or Injured in Crashes by Weather Condition and Light Condition

Table 58. Persons Killed or Injured in Crashes by Speed Limit and Crash Type

Table 59. Persons Killed in Crashes by Speed Limit and Land Use

Figure 20. Percent of Fatalities by Speed Limit and Land Use

Table 60. Persons Killed or Injured in Crashes and Percent Alcohol Related by Time of Day and Crash Type

Figure 21. Percent of Persons Killed or Injured in Alcohol-Related Crashes by Time of Day

Table 61. Persons Killed in Construction/Maintenance Zones, by Roadway Function Class and Person Type

Table 62. Persons Killed in Crashes Involving Emergency Vehicles, by Person Type, Crash Type, and Vehicle Type

Figure 22. Fatality and Injury Rates per 1,000 Crashes by First Harmful Event and Manner of Collision

Figure 23. Fatality and Injury Rates per 1,000 Crashes by Time of Day

Figure 24. Fatality and Injury Rates per 1,000 Crashes by Speed Limit

People: Drivers

Table 63. Driver Involvement Rates per 100,000 Licensed Drivers by Age, Sex, and Crash Severity

Figure 25. Driver Involvement Rates per 100,000 Licensed Drivers by Age, Sex, and Crash Severity

Table 64. Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes by Previous Driving Record and License Type Compliance

Table 65. Related Factors for Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes

People: Occupants

Table 66. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Vehicle Type, Person Type, and Injury Severity

Table 67. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Sex and Vehicle Type

Table 68. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Age and Vehicle Type

Table 69. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Age, Person Type, and Sex

Table 70. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Vehicle Type and Most Harmful Event

Table 71. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Initial Point of Impact and Vehicle Type

Table 72. Vehicle Occupants Killed or Injured, by Vehicle Type and Ejection

Table 73. Occupants Killed or Injured in Two-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle Types Involved

Table 74. Occupants Involved in Fatal Crashes and Occupant Fatalities, by Vehicle Body Type

Table 75. Passenger Car Occupants Involved in Fatal Crashes and Occupants Killed, by Car Wheelbase Size

People: Alcohol

Table 76. Persons Killed or Injured in Alcohol-Related Crashes, by Person Type and Injury Severity

Table 77. Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Involved in Crashes by Age, Alcohol Involvement, and Crash Severity

Figure 26. Percent of Driver and Motorcycle Operator Alcohol Involvement for Fatal and Injury Crashes

Table 78. Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Killed or Injured, by Time of Day, Day of Week, Age, Alcohol Involvement, and Crash Type

Table 79. Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Killed in Crashes, by Age and Driver’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Figure 27. Alcohol Involvement (BAC > 0.01) for Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Killed, by Driver Age, Crash Type, Time of Day, and Day of Week

Table 80. Drivers and Motorcycle Operators Involved in Crashes by Vehicle Type, Alcohol Involvement, and Crash Severity

Table 81. Persons Killed, by Age and Highest Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the Crash

Table 82. Pedestrians Killed, by Pedestrian’s and Driver’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

People: Restraints

Table 83. Drivers Involved in Crashes by Vehicle Type, Restraint Use, and Crash Severity

Table 84. Passenger Car and Light Truck Occupants Killed or Injured, by Age and Restraint Use

Table 85. Passenger Car and Light Truck Occupant Survivors of Fatal Crashes by Age and Restraint Use

Table 86. Passenger Car Occupants Killed or Injured, by Seating Position and Restraint Use

Table 87. Light Truck Occupants Killed or Injured, by Seating Position and Restraint Use

Table 88. Passenger Car and Light Truck Occupants Killed and Injured, by Restraint Use and Type of Restraint

People: Motorcycle Riders

Table 89. Motorcycle Riders Killed or Injured, by Time of Day and Day of Week

Figure 28. Average Number of Motorcycle Riders Killed per Hour, by Time of Day and Day of Week

Table 90. Motorcycle Riders Killed, by Person Type and Helmet Use

Table 91. Motorcycle Operators Involved in Fatal Crashes by Age and License Compliance

People: School Bus Related

Table 92. Pedestrians Killed in School Bus Related Crashes, by Age and Striking Vehicle

Table 93. Persons Killed or Injured in School Bus Related Crashes by Person Type

People: Pedestrians

Table 94. Pedestrians Killed or Injured, by Age and Location

Table 95. Pedestrians Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000 Population by Age and Sex

Table 96. Pedestrians Killed or Injured, by Time of Day and Day of Week

Figure 29. Average Number of Pedestrians Killed per Hour, by Time of Day and Day of Week

Table 97. Pedestrians Killed or Injured in Single-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle Type and Initial Point of Impact

Table 98. Pedestrians Killed, by Related Factors

People: Pedalcyclists

Table 99. Pedalcyclists Killed or Injured, by Age and Location

Table 100. Pedalcyclists Killed or Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates per 100,000 Population by Age and Sex

Table 101. Pedalcyclists Killed or Injured, by Time of Day and Day of Week

Table 102. Pedalcyclists Killed or Injured in Single-Vehicle Crashes, by Vehicle Type and Initial Point of Impact

Table 103. Pedalcyclists Killed, by Related Factors

Chapter 5. States

States: Crashes and All Victims

Table 104. 2003 Traffic Fatalities by State and Percent Change from 2002

Figure 30. 2003 Traffic Fatalities by State and Percent Change from 2002

Table 105. Fatal Crashes by State and First Harmful Event

Table 106. Fatal Crashes by State and Roadway Function Class

Table 107. Fatalities by State and Roadway Function Class

Table 108. Persons Killed, Licensed Drivers, Registered Vehicles, Population, and Fatality Rates by State

Table 109. Persons Killed, by State and Person Type

Table 110. Persons Killed, by State and Age Group

States: Occupants

Table 111. Occupants Killed, by State and Vehicle Type

Table 112. Passenger Car and Light Truck Occupants Killed, by State and Restraint Use

States: Pedestrians

Table 113. 2003 Ranking of State Pedestrian Fatality Rates

States: Alcohol

Table 114. Persons Killed, by State and Highest Blood Alcohol Concentration in the Crash

Table 115. Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by State and Blood Alcohol Concentration of the Driver

Table 116. Drivers Killed in Fatal Crashes, by State and Blood Alcohol Concentration of the Driver

Table 117. Surviving Drivers Involved in Fatal Crashes, by State and Blood Alcohol Concentration of the Driver

Table 118. Speeding-Related Traffic Fatalities by Road Type and Speed Limit

States: Emergency Medical Services

Table 119. Rural Fatal Crashes by State and Average Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Response Times

Table 120. Urban Fatal Crashes by State and Average Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Response Times

States: City Rates

Table 121. Persons Killed, Population, and Fatality Rates by City

States: Fatalities and Fatality Rates

Table 122. Fatalities and Fatality Rates by State, 1975-2003

States: Emergency Medical Services

Table 123. Child Passenger Protection Laws Through December 2003

Table 124. Status of State Motorcycle Helmet Use Requirements Through December 2003

Table 125. States With .08 Blood Alcohol Concentration Illegal Per Se Laws Through December 2003

Table 126. Key Provisions of Safety Belt Use Laws Through December 2003