Wednesday, August 7, 2002
NHTSA 55-02
Contact: Rae Tyson
Telephone: (202) 366-9550
USDOT Releases 2001 Highway Fatality Statistics; Deaths Among Children Down
to Lowest in History
Motor vehicle crashes in 2001 claimed the lives of fewer children ages 15 and under than any time in record-keeping history, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced today.
The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT)
decreased slightly. It was 1.52 in
2001, a small reduction from the final 2000 rate of 1.53.
The total number of people killed in highway crashes in 2001 was 42,116,
compared to 41,945 in 2000. However,
the drop in the 2001 fatality rate occurred because fatalities remained
relatively constant despite an increase in vehicle miles traveled.
In 2001, vehicle miles traveled increased slightly to 2.778 trillion, up
from 2.75 trillion in 2000, according to preliminary estimates from the
Department’s Federal Highway Administration.
"Though the loss of more than 42,000 people is
unacceptable, the news about the nation’s young people is positive,” said
U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta. "Clearly, parents and
caregivers are getting the message about the importance of proper restraints for
children of all ages.”
The
2001 statistics also continue to show the increased risk of death and injury
when drivers and passengers do not wear seat belts or fail to have their
children properly restrained in child safety seats: 60 percent of the passenger
vehicle occupants killed in crashes last year were not restrained.
“There is no more effective safety device than a seat
belt or child safety seat,” said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D.
“It often makes the difference between life and death in a serious
crash.”
NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) also
shows that in 2001:
·
Motorcycle fatalities increased for the fourth year in a row
following years of steady improvement. With
3,181 killed in 2001, it was the highest number of motorcycle fatalities since
1990. For the first time since 1997, younger motorcyclists, that is, riders
under the age of 40, posted the highest percentage increases in fatalities.
·
The rate of alcohol-related deaths in 2001 remained unchanged at
0.63 per 100 million VMT–17,448 deaths.
·
Fatalities in crashes involving large trucks dropped from 5,282 in
2000 to 5,082 in 2001.
·
The number of pedestrians killed, 4,882, increased slightly from
4,763.
·
Young drivers (16-20) were involved in slightly fewer fatal
crashes, 7,598, in 2001 compared to 7,671 in 2000.
·
Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities in single vehicle rollover
crashes increased 2.3 percent to 8,400. Pickup trucks accounted for the largest percentage increase
– 4.2 percent.
·
The number of fatalities for children under five dropped
significantly, an 8.6 percent decrease. There were 710 in 2000 compared to 649
in 2001. The number of fatalities for children ages five to 15 also dropped 8.6
percent from 2,121 in 2000 to 1,939 in 2001. The number of fatalities in both
age groups is the lowest since FARS record-keeping began in 1975.
NHTSA annually collects crash data from 50 states and the District of Columbia to produce an annual report on traffic crash trends. To view a summary of the 2001 crash statistics on the Internet, go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/. Under “Popular Information” click on “Crash Statistics” and at the next site, click on “Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes / Fatality and Injury Estimates for 2001.” Printed reports will be published this year.
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