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FHWA Home / Safety / Transportation Safety Planning (TSP) / State Safety Fact Sheets

Program Contact

Jennifer Warren
jennifer.warren@dot.gov
(202) 366-2157
 

State Safety Fact Sheets

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Massachusetts

FHWA-SA-11-38

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of people who died in crashes across the country decreased from 37,423 in 2008 to 33,808 in 2009. In addition, the number of people injured declined for the ninth year in a row to just over 2.2 million. Even in light of these reductions, motor vehicle crashes remain a significant problem. To improve safety, a coordinated response is needed from all levels and branches of government – Federal agencies, State legislatures, city and county councils, and local agencies. A coordinated response should result in increased safety funding, more effective safety laws, and enhanced education, enforcement, engineering, and emergency response efforts targeting critical safety issues. As part of the overall strategy to reduce fatalities and serious injuries, Massachusetts has an approved Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), which identifies the following emphasis areas: data systems, infrastructure, at-risk driver behavior, higher-risk transportation system users, public education and media, and safety program management. To obtain a copy of the SHSP, contact the State DOT or FHWA Division Office Safety Specialist.

Fatality Trends

Indicators MA U.S.
Total Fatalities
2009 334 33,808
Average: 2000-2009 431 41,157
Fatality Rate (per 100M VMT)
2009 .61 1.14
Average: 2000-2009 .80 1.41

Graph- Roadway fatalities in Massachusetts increased from 433 in 2000 to 477 in 2001 before decreasing to 334 in 2009. Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased from 0.82 in 2000 to 0.90 in 2001 and decreased to 0.61 in 2009. Fatality rate in the country continuously decreased from 1.53 in 2000 to 1.14 in 2009.

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

Fatality rate is calculated based on State fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Total fatalities are taken from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

Safety Focus Areas

This chart represents national safety focus areas and their corresponding percentages of total crash fatalities in the State and in the Nation. More than one of these focus areas may be involved as contributing factors in a single crash.

Graph - Shows average fatalities between 2005 and 2009 as a percentage of total crash fatalities for various safety focus areas. Intersections 19 percent in Massachusetts, 21 percent nationwide; Roadway departure crashes 52 percent in Massachusetts, 53 percent nationwide; Pedestrian 16 percent in Massachusetts, 12 percent nationwide; Speeding 30 percent in Massachusetts, 32 percent nationwide; Alcohol-related crashes 41 percent Massachusetts, 37 percent nationwide; Unrestrained fatalities 35 percent Massachusetts, 36 percent nationwide; Fatalities involving large trucks 7 percent in Massachusetts, 11 percent nationwide.

In the graphic, "Intersections" refers to non-interchange intersection/intersection-related crashes; "Roadway Departures" refers to non-intersection crashes in which a vehicle crosses an edge line, a centerline, or leaves the traveled way (includes intersections at interchange areas); "Alcohol" refers to crashes involving a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) =.01+; "Unrestrained" refers to unrestrained passenger vehicles occupant fatalities (does not include unknown restraint use).

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

Rural and Urban Roadway Fatalities

Pie chart - 90 percent of traffic-related fatalities occur on Massachusetts's urban roadways, 10 percent occur on the rural roads. Graph - Shows fatalities by rural roadway facility type from 2005 to 2009. Rural Interstate fatalities: 1 in 2005, 10 in 2006, 4 in 2007, 1 in 2008, 4 in 2009. Rural principal arterial fatalities: 7 in 2005, 11 in 2006, 10 in 2007, 3 in 2008, 1 in 2009. Rural minor arterial fatalities: 11 in 2005, 9 in 2006, 5 in 2007, 9 in 2008, 7 in 2009. Rural collector and local fatalities: 19 in 2005, 18 in 2006, 17 in 2007, 23 in 2008, 23 in 2009.

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

Pie chart - 35 percent of traffic-related fatalities occur on the nation's urban roadways, 65 percent occur on the nation's rural roads. Graph - Shows fatalities by urban roadway facility type from 2005 to 2009. Urban Interstate fatalities: 179 in 2005, 133 in 2006, 160 in 2007, 143 in 2008, 156 in 2009. Urban principal arterial fatalities: 1 in 2005, 13 in 2006, 8 in 2007, 1 in 2008, 4 in 2009. Urban minor arterial fatalities: 134 in 2005, 65 in 2006, 37 in 2007, 29 in 2008, 23 in 2009. Urban collector and local fatalities: 87 in 2005, 168 in 2006, 193 in 2007, 155 in 2008, 116 in 2009.

Source: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2000-2008 Final & 2009 Annual Report File (ARF).

For the purposes of this document, the terms urban and rural are based on the definition published in the American National Standard (ANSI D16.1-1996).

For More Information

The Transportation Safety Planning Working Group

Fatality Analysis Reporting System

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Federal Highway Administration Division Office Contacts

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Planning

Federal Highway Administration, Office of Safety

Federal Highway Administration Resource Center

Contacts

Safety Specialist or Planning Team Leader
FHWA, Massachusetts Division
55 Broadway, 10th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02142
(617) 494-3657

Jennifer Warren
Transportation Specialist
FHWA, Office of Safety, E71-113
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
(202) 366-2157
Fax (202) 366-3222
Jennifer.Warren@dot.gov

Rae Keasler
Transportation Planner
FHWA, Office of Planning, E72-109
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
(202) 366-0329
Fax (202) 493-2198
Rae.Keasler@dot.gov

Safety and Design or Planning Team
FHWA Resource Center
One Prairie Office Center
4749 Lincoln Mall Drive, Suite 600
Matteson, IL 60443
Phone: (708) 283-3500
Fax: (708) 283-3501

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