Every year, people suffer injuries and lose their lives due to car crashes. In this blog, we will discuss the most important statistics related to road safety, so you can be informed and make better driving decisions.
What Drivers Should Know
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reported 276,026 total crashes in 2021, resulting in 114,722 injuries and 1,783 fatalities. These numbers reflect a significant increase in reportable crashes (12%), injuries (9%), and fatalities (8%) from the year prior.
When Crashes Are Most Likely to Occur
The most dangerous days for driving in North Carolina are the weekends and holidays, particularly during the summer months. This is likely due to more people traveling for vacations, increased alcohol consumption, and more people being on the roads.
Holiday Crashes
- New Year 986 crashes, 421 injuries, and 11 fatalities. 73% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
- Easter 2,136 crashes, 990 injuries, and 19 fatalities. 42% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
- Memorial Day 1,996 crashes, 960 injuries, and 11 fatalities. 55% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
- Fourth of July 1,431 crashes, 676 injuries, and 16 fatalities. 50% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
- Labor Day 1,936 crashes, 924 injuries, and 23 fatalities. 57% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
- Thanksgiving 2,908 crashes, 1,112 injuries, and 13 fatalities. 46% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
- Christmas 2,719 crashes, 1,140 injuries, and 24 fatalities. 33% of fatalities were unbelted individuals.
On average, approximately 51% of individuals that died in holiday accidents were NOT wearing their seatbelts. This is an alarming statistic, given how easy it is for passengers to use their seatbelts and how crucial they are to minimizing injury during accidents.
Factors that Caused Most Crashes
The top contributing factors resulting in crashes in North Carolina included:
- Speeding
- Inattention
- Failure to yield
- Improper lane change
- Operated vehicle in an erratic, reckless, careless, negligent, or aggressive manner 13.6k
These contributing factors serve as a reminder that drivers need to be aware of their surroundings, remain alert while driving, and always follow traffic laws.
Crashes by Driver Age
In North Carolina, young drivers are at a higher risk of being involved in car accidents than older drivers. The number of crashes and fatalities by driver age group is as follows:
- 20-29-year-olds were involved in 105,525 crashes, 543 of which were fatal.
- 30-39-year-olds were involved in 81,458 crashes, 464 of which were fatal.
- 40-49-year-olds were involved in 63,697 crashes, 340 of which were fatal.
- 50-59-year-olds were involved in 56,576 crashes, 352 of which were fatal.
- 60-69-year-olds were involved in 40,782 crashes, 240 of which were fatal.
- 70+-year-olds were involved in 29,431 crashes, 269 of which were fatal.
These statistics highlight the importance of safe driving and adhering to traffic laws, regardless of age. It's crucial for all drivers to prioritize road safety and drive responsibly.
Crashes by Vehicle Type
It's important to consider the different types of vehicles on the road. According to recent statistics, passenger vehicles were involved in the highest number of crashes, with over 249,927 reported in 2021 alone. The following vehicle types were involved in the most crashes:
- Passenger cars were involved in 249,927 crashes, 1,040 of which were fatal.
- Sport utility vehicles were involved in 113,006 crashes, 532 of which were fatal.
- Pickup Trucks were involved in 67,870 crashes, 448 of which were fatal.
- Vans were involved in 18,722 crashes, 118 of which were fatal.
- Trucks were involved in 16,464 crashes, 156 of which were fatal.
Despite truck-involved crashes being the fifth most common, truck-involved crashes result in the highest rate of fatalities.
Injured? Our North Carolina Personal Injury Attorneys Can Help
By being mindful of the traffic safety statistics in North Carolina, drivers can take steps to stay safe while driving. Always wear a seat belt, avoid distractions and impairment, maintain a safe speed and distance, and be aware of other drivers on the road.
That being said, even when you do everything right, accidents can still happen. If you or a loved one experienced an injury, catastrophic injury, or wrongful death during an accident, the team at Comerford Chilson & Moser can help you. Our attorneys have the experience and the resources to pursue complex catastrophic injury and wrongful death litigation.
Contact us at (336) 568-8779 or submit our confidential form to schedule a free consultation. We will answer any questions you may have regarding your case. If your claim is accepted, we will begin reviewing your case's facts immediately.