Traffic Safety Facts 1998: State Traffic Data

NHTSA · 1999 · ROSA P / National Center for Statistics and Analysis (U.S.)

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Summary

This document, published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 1999, presents a comprehensive statistical analysis of traffic safety data for the United States in 1998. The report compiles state-level data on traffic fatalities, fatality rates, alcohol involvement, speeding-related crashes, occupant restraint usage, and relevant state legislation. The primary objective is to provide a detailed overview of traffic safety trends, comparing 1998 figures against 1997 and historical data from 1975 to 1998. The data is sourced primarily from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), with supplementary information on vehicle miles traveled and registered vehicles from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and population data from the Bureau of the Census. The report utilizes tabular formats to present absolute numbers and percentages across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Key metrics include total traffic fatalities, fatality rates per 100,000 population and per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, and the percentage of fatalities involving alcohol or speeding. Additionally, the report catalogs state-specific laws regarding seat belt usage, impaired driving sanctions, child passenger protection, and motorcycle helmet requirements as of December 1998. In 1998, the United States recorded 41,471 traffic fatalities, a 1% decrease from 1997. Nationally, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.6, representing a 53% decline from the 1975 rate of 3.4. Alcohol involvement in fatal crashes decreased significantly; the percentage of fatalities involving drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 g/dl or higher dropped from 40% in 1988 to 30% in 1998. Speeding was a contributing factor in 12,477 fatalities, accounting for approximately 30% of all traffic deaths, with estimated costs totaling $27.65 billion. Regarding occupant protection, 40.4% of passenger car occupants killed were restrained, while 50.8% were unrestrained. Among motorcyclists killed, 51.5% were helmeted, 44.5% were not, and 4.0% had unknown status. The report highlights significant variations in state-level performance and legislative environments. For instance, Massachusetts and New Jersey reported the lowest fatality rates per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (0.8 and 1.2, respectively), while Mississippi and Montana had the highest (2.8 and 2.5). Seat belt use rates varied widely, from 89% in California to 40% in North Dakota. The document also details the status of safety laws, noting that 49 states plus D.C. and Puerto Rico had seat belt laws, though enforcement types (primary vs. secondary) and fines differed. Similarly, impaired driving laws showed diverse administrative per se BAC levels and license sanction durations. This compilation serves as a critical resource for evaluating the effectiveness of traffic safety interventions and legislative measures across the nation.

Key finding

The total number of traffic fatalities in the United States was 41,471 in 1998, representing a 1% decrease from the 42,013 fatalities recorded in 1997.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• comparative international
• fatality injury trends
• incidence prevalence

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: observational prevalence, crash risk outcomes