Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers 1 Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Traffic and Safety Introduction Driving Safely in Maryland Alcohol was involved in 27% of all inattentive driver-related fatal crashes but was only reported in 2.2% of all crashes. An inattentive driving crash is defined as Failing to give full time and attention by the first contributing circumstance provided. In 2005 there was a dramatic decrease in the number of inattentive driving crashes due impart to improved coding of the Contributing Circumstance data field. This decrease has continued through 2008. In 2008, a total of 35 persons lost their lives and 11,578 persons were injured in 23,569 inattentive driver-involved crashes. Summary Over the past 5 years, there has been a steady decline in the total number of inattentive driver- involved crashes reported in Maryland; a 47% decrease when comparing 2004 to 2008. Fixed object crashes accounted for 23.5% of all fatal inattentive driver-involved crashes. Baltimore City ranked first among all Maryland jurisdictions with respect to total crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled and 10,000 population, 137.9 and 179.1 respectively. Drivers between the ages of 45-49 accounted for the largest percentage of fatalities in inattentive crashes (30%). In 2008, 75% of drivers killed in inattentive driving crashes were males. In 2008, 25% of the inattentive driver fatalities were reported as not using safety equipment as compared to 2.3% of all drivers involved. Alcohol was involved in 14.7% of inattentive driver-related fatal crashes but was only reported in 2.2% of the total inattentive driver-related crashes. Worcester County ranked first among all Maryland jurisdictions with respect to total crashes 10,000 population, 79.96 and Baltimore City rank first with respect to total crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 138.74.
2 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers Inattentive Driver-Involved Fatalities and Crash Severity The number of fatalities involving inattentive driver related crashes decreased from 39 in 2007 to 35 in 2008, the lowest number reported in the past 10 years. Table 1: Inattentive Driver-Involved Fatalities, 1999-2008 The number of fatalities involving inattentive driver related crashes decreased from 39 in 2007 to 35 in 2008, the lowest number reported in the past 10 years. Statewide Fatalities Inattentive Driver- Involved Fatalities Year Number Number % Inattentive Drivers Killed 1999 598 156 26.1 94 2000 617 187 30.3 103 2001 662 217 32.8 129 2002 661 201 30.4 110 2003 651 173 26.6 101 2004 643 187 29.1 112 2005 614 73 11.9 35 2006 651 51 7.8 23 2007 615 39 6.3 17 2008 592 35 5.9 20 There were 20 inattentive drivers killed in 2008 as compared to 17 in 2008. Over the past 5 years, there has been a steady decline in the total number of inattentive driver- involved crashes reported in Maryland; a 47% decrease when comparing 2004 to 2008. Over the past 5 years, there has been a steady decline in the total number of inattentive driver- involved crashes reported in Maryland; a 47% decrease when comparing 2004 to 2008. Table 2: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Severity, 2004-2008 Fatal Crashes Injury Crashes PDO Crashes Total Fatalities Injured* Year N % N % N % N N N 2004 161 0.4 16,539 36.8 28,272 62.9 44,972 187 24,860 2005* 69 0.2 11,452 35.5 20,710 64.3 32,231 73 17,405 2006 44 0.2 9,480 34.2 18,179 65.6 27,703 51 14,113 2007 37 0.1 8,723 33.7 17,143 66.2 25,903 39 12,932 2008 34 0.1 7,916 33.6 15,619 66.3 23,569 35 11,578 *New coding techniques adopted for contributing circumstances Figure 1: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes and Fatalities, 1999-2008 50,000 500 Inattenctive Driver-Involved Accidents 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 Inattentive Driver- Involved Accidents Inattentive Driver- Involved Fatalities 400 300 200 100 Inattentive Driver-Involved Fatalities 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers 3 Crash Types Fixed object crashes accounted for 23.5% of all fatal inattentive driver-involved crashes. Fixed object crashes accounted for approximately 23.5% of all fatal inattentive driverinvolved crashes. Inattentive driverinvolved fatalities occurred most frequently on Saturdays, 29.4%. In 2008, 32% of the total inattentive driver-related crashes involved rear end collisions. Table 3: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Crash Type, 2008 Fatal Crashes Total Crashes Crash Type Opposite Direction 7 20.6 1,730 7.3 Rear End 7 20.6 7,511 31.9 Left Turn 0 0.0 281 1.2 Sideswipe 2 5.9 1,241 5.3 Angle 4 11.8 3,066 13.0 Parked Vehicle 0 0.0 3,140 13.3 Pedestrian 3 8.8 634 2.7 Pedalcycle 0 0.0 132 0.6 Fixed Object 8 23.5 3,300 14.0 Other Object 0 0.0 152 0.6 Overturned 0 0.0 127 0.5 Run Off Road 1 2.9 196 0.8 Other/unknown 2 5.9 2,059 8.7 Total 34 100.0 23,569 100.0 Temporal Patterns Inattentive driver-involved fatalities occurred most frequently on Saturdays, 29.4%. Figure 2: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Day of Week, 2008 Fatal Accidents Total Accidents 17.6% 14.7% 20.6% 29.4% 11.4% 16.8% 14.7% 13.8%14.2%14.5%14.6% 2.9% 8.8% 5.9% Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
4 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers In 2008, over one-half (51%) of the total inattentive driving crashes occurred between 12PM and 8PM, whereas over one-quarter (26.5%) of the fatal crashes happened between 12AM and 4AM. Table 4: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Time of Day, 2008 In 2008, over one-half (51%) of the total inattentive driving crashes occurred between 12PM and 8PM, whereas over one-quarter (26.5%) of the fatal crashes happened between 12AM and 4AM. Time of Day Fatal Crashes Total Crashes 12:00AM-03:59AM 9 26.5 1,869 7.9 04:00AM-07:59AM 3 8.8 2,152 9.1 08:00AM-11:59AM 7 20.6 4,319 18.3 12:00PM-03:59PM 5 14.7 5,827 24.7 04:00PM-07:59PM 7 20.6 6,221 26.4 08:00PM-11:59PM 3 8.8 3,178 13.5 Unknown 0 0.0 3 0.0 Total 34 100.0 23,569 100.0 Route Types In 2008, 38% of all fatal inattentive driving crashes happened on state highways. Over one-half (55%) of the total crashes occurred on state and county highways, 38% and 26% respectively. Figure 3: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Route Type, 2008 Fatal Accidents Total Accidents In 2008, 38% of all fatal inattentive driving crashes happened on state highways. MD, 13, 38% US, 8, 24% IS, 2, 6% CO, 9, 26% Others, 2, 6% MD, 6,946, 29% CO, 6,103, 26% US, 1,431, 6% MU, 1,444, 6% Balt. City, 4,860, 21% IS, 727, 3% Others, 2,058, 9%
Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers 5 Illumination Table 5: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Illumination, 2008 In 2008, 50% of the fatal inattentive crashes occurred in the dark; 23.5% with lights on and 26.5% with lights off. Illumination Fatal Crashes Total Crashes Daylight 16 47.1 15,611 66.2 Dawn / Dusk 1 2.9 1,094 4.6 Dark Lights On 8 23.5 5,712 24.2 Dark Lights Off 9 26.5 1,051 4.5 Other / Unknown 0 0.0 101 0.4 Total 34 100.0 23,569 100.0 In 2008, 50% of the fatal inattentive crashes occurred in the dark; 23.5% with lights on and 26.5% with lights off. Approximately two-thirds of all inattentive crashes occurred in the daylight. Inattentive Driver Characteristics Drivers between the ages of 45-49 accounted for the largest percentage of fatalities in inattentive crashes (30%). Over one-third (35.5%) of all inattentive crashes involved drivers 16-29 years old. Drivers between the ages of 45-49 accounted for the largest percentage of fatalities in inattentive crashes (30%). Table 6: Inattentive Driver Information by Age, 2008 Inattentive Driver Age Inattentive Drivers Involved Inattentive Driver Fatalities in Crashes 15 and Under 0 0.0 60 0.2 16-19 0 0.0 2,599 10.5 20-24 3 15.0 3,411 13.8 25-29 0 0.0 2,781 11.2 30-34 2 10.0 2,047 8.3 35-39 1 5.0 1,809 7.3 40-44 3 15.0 1,774 7.2 45-49 6 30.0 1,681 6.8 50-54 1 5.0 1,302 5.3 55-59 0 0.0 1,119 4.5 60-64 1 5.0 764 3.1 65-69 0 0.0 533 2.2 70-79 2 10.0 708 2.9 80 + 1 5.0 426 1.7 Unknown 0 0.0 3,755 15.2 Total 20 100.0 24,769 100.0
6 Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers In 2008, 75% of drivers killed in inattentive driving crashes were males. In 2008, 75% of drivers killed in inattentive driving crashes were males. Table 7: Inattentive Driver information by Gender, 2008 Inattentive Drivers Involved in Inattentive Driver Fatalities Gender Crashes Male 15 75.0 13,283 53.6 Female 5 25.0 8,685 35.1 Unknown 0 0.0 2,801 11.3 Total 20 100.0 24,769 100.0 Safety Equipment Used In 2008, 25% of the inattentive driver fatalities were reported as not using safety equipment as compared to 2.3% of all drivers involved. Table 8: Inattentive Drivers Information by Safety Equipment Used, 2008 Alcohol was involved in 22% of inattentive driverrelated fatal crashes but was only reported in 2.4% of the total in attentive driver-related crashes. Inattentive Drivers Inattentive Drivers Involved Inattentive Drivers Fatalities Safety Equipment in Crashes Used Lap Belts Only 0 0.0 156 0.6 Harnesses Only 0 0.0 257 1.0 Belt and Harness 5 25.0 15,450 62.4 Air Bag 0 0.0 40 0.2 Air Bag and Belts 4 20.0 2,412 9.7 Motorcycle Helmet 1 5.0 82 0.3 Eye Protection. 0 0.0 2 0.0 Helmet / Eye Protection 3 15.0 100 0.4 None 5 25.0 578 2.3 Other/Unknown 2 10.0 5692 23.0 Total 20 100.0 24,769 100.0 Alcohol-Related Crashes Alcohol was involved in 14.7% of inattentive driver-related fatal crashes but was only reported in 2.2% of the total inattentive driverrelated crashes. Table 9: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes by Alcohol/Drug Condition, 2008 Crash Condition Fatal Crashes Total Crashes Alcohol 5 14.7 512 2.2 Drugs 0 0.0 196 0.8 Both (Alcohol & Drugs) 0 0.0 7 0.0 No 29 85.3 22,854 97.0 Total 34 100.0 23,569 100.0
Maryland Traffic Safety Facts 2008 - Inattentive Drivers 7 County Worcester County ranked first among all Maryland jurisdictions with respect to total crashes 10,000 population, 79.96 and Baltimore City rank first with respect to total crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 138.74. Prince George s County had the highest percentage of inattentive driver-involved fatal crashes (26.6%) followed by Baltimore City with 21.3%. Worcester County ranked first among all Maryland jurisdictions with respect to total crashes 10,000 population, 79.96 and Baltimore City rank first with respect to total crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 138.74. Table 10: Inattentive Driver-Involved Crashes and Crash Rates by County, 2008 Inattentive Driver Involved Crashes Crash Rate Crash Rate (per (per County Fatal % Total % Pop. 1 10K pop) VMT (mill) 100M VMT) Allegany 2 5.9 194 0.8 72,238 26.86 813 23.86 Anne Arundel 5 14.7 1,786 7.6 512,790 34.83 5,759 31.01 Baltimore 2 5.9 2,897 12.3 785,618 36.88 8,227 35.21 Calvert 1 2.9 119 0.5 88,698 13.42 765 15.56 Caroline 0 0.0 53 0.2 33,138 15.99 371 14.29 Carroll 0 0.0 214 0.9 169,353 12.64 1,273 16.81 Cecil 3 8.8 291 1.2 99,926 29.12 1,351 21.54 Charles 0 0.0 221 0.9 140,764 15.70 1,260 17.54 Dorchester 0 0.0 44 0.2 31,998 13.75 396 11.11 Frederick 3 8.8 503 2.1 225,721 22.28 2,930 17.17 Garrett 1 2.9 87 0.4 29,698 29.29 528 16.48 Harford 0 0.0 656 2.8 240,351 27.29 2,324 28.23 Howard 2 5.9 411 1.7 274,995 14.95 3,793 10.84 Kent 0 0.0 28 0.1 20,151 13.90 220 12.73 Montgomery 1 2.9 3,130 13.3 950,680 32.92 7,443 42.05 Prince George's 13 38.2 6,281 26.6 820,852 76.52 8,719 72.04 Queen Anne's 0 0.0 96 0.4 47,091 20.39 924 10.39 St. Mary's 0 0.0 25 0.1 101,578 2.46 822 3.04 Somerset 0 0.0 69 0.3 26,119 26.42 289 23.88 Talbot 0 0.0 108 0.5 36,215 29.82 614 17.59 Washington 1 2.9 574 2.4 145,384 39.48 2,055 27.93 Wicomico 0 0.0 367 1.6 94,046 39.02 1,008 36.41 Worcester 0 0.0 394 1.7 49,274 79.96 644 61.18 Baltimore City 0 0.0 5,021 21.3 636,919 78.83 3,619 138.74 Total 34 100.0 23,569 100.0 5,633,597 41.84 56,147 41.98 1. Source: * Maryland Department of Planning
Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Office of Traffic and Safety Maryland Highway Safety Office Driving Safely in Maryland Last Edited on December 3, 2009