Chapter 5. States
Fatal crash and fatality statistics for each of the 50 states, the District
of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are presented in this chapter. Several tables
display state fatality rates based on population, licensed drivers, and
registered vehicles. The last four tables describe each state’s safety
belt use laws, child passenger protection laws, motorcycle helmet use requirements,
and impaired driving legislation. Below are some of the state statistics
you will find in this chapter:
-
Traffic fatalities decreased slightly (by 0.8 percent) from 2002 to 2003
for the nation as a whole. Twenty-one states and the District of Columbia
showed increases, ranging from less than 1 percent to as much as 24 percent.
-
The pedestrian fatality rate per 100,000 population was 1.63 for the nation.
The District of Columbia had the highest rate (3.19) and Iowa had the lowest
(0.61).
-
About 1.5 percent of all traffic crash fatalities in 2003 were pedalcyclists.
North Dakota and the District of Columbia reported no pedalcyclists killed.
-
In 2003, all states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, had
safety belt use laws. All states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto
Rico also had laws requiring children of certain ages to be restrained
in child safety seats.
-
Motorcycle helmets were required for all riders in 20 states, the District
of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in 2003. Twenty-seven states had helmet requirements
with exceptions (age, rider type, roadway type), and three states did not
require helmets at all.
-
In 2003, it was a criminal offense to operate a motor vehicle at a blood
alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 g/dl or above in 45 states, the District
of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.