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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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Washington

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, Washington has an approved Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), which identifies the following emphasis areas: priority level one (impaired drivers, run-off-the-road collisions, and speeding), priority level two (young drivers, distracted drivers, unrestrained vehicle occupants, intersections, and traffic data systems), and priority level three (opposite direction multivehicle collision, motorcycles, pedestrians, heavy trucks, emergency medical services, and unlicensed drivers). To obtain a copy of the SHSP, contact the State DOT or FHWA Division Office Safety Specialist.

Fatality Trends

Indicators WA U.S.
Total Fatalities
2009 492 33,808
Average: 2000-2009 597 41,157
Fatality Rate (per 100M VMT)
2009 0.87 1.14
Average: 2000-2009 1.08 1.41

Graph - Roadway fatalities in Washington increased from 631 in 2000 to 658 in 2002 before decreasing to 492 in 2009. Fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased from 1.18 in 2000 to 1.21 in 2001 and decreased to 0.87 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 Washington, 21 percent nationwide; Roadway departure crashes 60 percent in Washington, 53 percent nationwide; Pedestrian 11 percent in Washington, 12 percent nationwide; Speeding 40 percent in Washington, 32 percent nationwide; Alcohol-related crashes 43 percent Washington, 37 percent nationwide; Unrestrained fatalities 28 percent Washington, 36 percent nationwide; Fatalities involving large trucks 10 percent in Washington, 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 - 35 percent of traffic-related fatalities occur on Washington's urban roadways, 65 percent occur on the rural roads. Graph - Shows fatalities by rural roadway facility type from 2005 to 2009. Rural Interstate fatalities: 42 in 2005, 32 in 2006, 26 in 2007, 16 in 2008, 23 in 2009. Rural principal arterial fatalities: 99 in 2005, 96 in 2006, 118 in 2007, 123 in 2008, 151 in 2009. Rural minor arterial fatalities: 81 in 2005, 62 in 2006, 44 in 2007, 17 in 2008, 20 in 2009. Rural collector and local fatalities: 177 in 2005, 173 in 2006, 157 in 2007, 114 in 2008, 98 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: 30 in 2005, 32 in 2006, 31 in 2007, 49 in 2008, 34 in 2009. Urban principal arterial fatalities: 72 in 2005, 86 in 2006, 58 in 2007, 61 in 2008, 48 in 2009. Urban minor arterial fatalities: 51 in 2005, 44 in 2006, 42 in 2007, 83 in 2008, 46 in 2009. Urban collector and local fatalities: 95 in 2005, 108 in 2006, 87 in 2007, 40 in 2008, 40 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, Washington Division
711 South Capitol Way,
Suite 501
Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 753-9480

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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