Motor Vehicle Injury Data

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people age 5-34. (more) Every 12 minutes: someone dies in a car crash in the US. Every 10 seconds: someone is injured in a car crash in the US. The cost is an estimated $99 billion per year. (more)

• Purpose: To monitor the trends in incidence rate of motor vehicle injuries and fatalities.
• Key Information: To determine if certain risk factors increase incidence rate. For example: no seat beat usage, alcohol, young drivers, etc.
• Collection Period: Collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, from 1993 to present, annually.

Rhode Island Numbers in 2009

• 83 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes. (more)
• 17% of motor vehicle fatalities involved young drivers (ages 15-20). (more)
• 51% of motor vehicle fatalities involved alcohol. (more)
• 67% of traffic fatalities involved unrestrained motorists. (more)
• The seat belt usage rate was 74.7%, well below the national average (84%). (more)
• Total crash-related costs in one year: $79 million (more)