1998 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report

NHTSA · 1998 · ROSA P / Nebraska. Dept. of Roads

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Summary

The 1998 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report, published by the Nebraska Department of Roads, provides a comprehensive statistical analysis of motor vehicle accidents in Nebraska. The report aims to elevate public awareness of accident trends to reduce the frequency and severity of traffic crashes, identifying driving as a high-risk activity. The data relies on "reportable accidents," defined as incidents involving death, injury, or property damage exceeding $500, collected by law enforcement officers statewide. The report presents detailed statistics for 1998, recording a total of 48,183 accidents, comprising 271 fatal accidents, 19,534 injury accidents, and 28,378 property damage-only (PDO) accidents. These incidents resulted in 315 fatalities and 30,581 injuries, with an estimated economic loss of $2.2 billion. The death rate was 1.8 persons per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, reflecting a general downward trend since 1959 attributed to improvements in vehicle design, roadway engineering, and safety enforcement. Geographically, Douglas County recorded the highest number of accidents (14,737) and fatalities (30). Analysis of accident characteristics reveals that collisions between motor vehicles constituted the majority of incidents, while accidents involving fixed objects, pedestrians, and overturns were disproportionately represented in fatal crashes. Roadway type significantly influenced severity; although interstates had the lowest accident rate per 100 million vehicle miles, they accounted for a higher percentage of fatal accidents compared to their share of total accidents, likely due to higher speeds. Local roads and streets had the highest overall accident rates. Temporally, accidents peaked between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., while Thursday saw the highest percentage of fatal accidents. Younger drivers, particularly those aged 15 to 24, were involved in a disproportionate number of accidents, accounting for 34.2% of all crashes and 28.3% of fatal ones. The report highlights critical safety factors, including restraint use and alcohol involvement. The statewide seat belt usage rate was 65.1% in 1998, yet only 25.4% of occupants who died and 45.3% of those with disabling injuries were belted. Male drivers, representing 57.9% of all drivers, were involved in 74.2% of fatal accidents. Motorcycle accidents showed a long-term decline, aided by a mandatory helmet law and educational programs, though 1998 saw a slight increase in fatal motorcycle crashes compared to 1997. The findings underscore the importance of continued enforcement, public education, and infrastructure improvements to address persistent risks associated with driver age, gender, and restraint non-compliance.

Key finding

In 1998, Nebraska recorded 48,183 reportable traffic accidents resulting in 271 fatalities, with motor vehicle-to-motor vehicle collisions accounting for the largest share of total incidents.

Methodology

dataset

Sample size: 48183

Provenance

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Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• fatality injury trends
• demographic disparities
• comparative international
• vru crash typology
• crash typology

Information type

What kind of knowledge this paper contributes, grouped by family — independent of topic (what it is about) and method (how it was studied).

• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes, observational prevalence