Auto Accidents

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among Americans 1-34 years old. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the total societal cost of crashes exceeds $200 billion annually. Of all drivers involved in fatal crashes, males account for more than twice as many crashes as females. Although the U.S. population has been growing steadily, the rate of motor vehicle crash deaths per 100,000 population has declined by 29 percent since 1975. For the last decade declines have been much smaller. The death rate increased among motorcyclists but decreased among passenger vehicle (cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans) occupants, bicyclists, and pedestrians. In Nevada in 2004, there were 398 reported fatalities from motor vehicle crashes.

Source: the U.S. Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Red Light Running
Each year more than 900 people die and nearly 200,000 are injured in crashes that involve red light running. About half of the deaths are pedestrians and occupants in other vehicles who are hit by the red light runners.

Motor Vehicle Fatalities
Of the 46,200 motor vehicle fatalities in 2004:

• 54.1% were drivers
• 23.4% were passengers
• 10.9 % were pedestrians
• 9.4 % percent were motorcyclists
• 1.7% were bicyclists
• 0.2% were unknown occupants

Alcohol-Related Accidents
Alcohol-related crash fatalities, as a percent of all crash fatalities, fell from 58 percent in 1983 to 39 percent in 2004. Of the 16,694 alcohol related fatalities in 2004:

• 55% were drivers
• 20.5% were passengers
• 13.2% were pedestrians
• 9.3% were motorcyclists
• 1.5% were bicyclists
• 0.2% were unknown occupants

Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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