2000 Wisconsin Traffic Crash Facts

NHTSA · 2001 · ROSA P / Wisconsin. Department of Transportation

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Summary

The "2000 Wisconsin Traffic Crash Facts" report, published by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in 2001, provides a comprehensive statistical analysis of motor vehicle traffic crashes in Wisconsin for the year 2000. The document serves as a resource for traffic safety professionals, aiming to identify current and emerging safety issues by detailing crash frequencies, severity, and contributing factors. It explicitly frames traffic crashes as avoidable events caused by specific variables rather than accidental occurrences, emphasizing the need to address causal factors to reduce injuries and fatalities. The data is derived from the DOT/DMV Traffic Accident Database, which compiles information recorded on the MV4000 Wisconsin Motor Vehicle Accident Report by state and local law enforcement agencies. The report presents statewide statistics categorized by crash severity, vehicle type, driver demographics, and environmental conditions. It includes comparative data against previous years, notably 1999, and provides a fifteen-year summary from 1986 to 2000. The analysis covers fatal, injury, and property damage crashes, with specific attention to alcohol involvement, speed-related incidents, and safety equipment usage. The report also notes a change in the reporting threshold for property damage crashes effective January 1, 1996, which likely influenced the decline in reported property damage crashes compared to prior years. In 2000, there were 139,510 total traffic crashes in Wisconsin, resulting in 801 fatalities and 63,890 injuries. The fatality rate was 1.40 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, an increase from 1.31 in 1999. Alcohol was a factor in 38% of fatal crashes, while speed was involved in 29%. Among drivers killed and tested for alcohol concentration, 36% had a blood alcohol concentration of .10 or above. Pedestrian fatalities decreased to 50 from 55 in 1999, with 38% of those killed having a blood alcohol concentration of .10 or above. Motorcycle fatalities increased to 78 from 65 in 1999, and 79% of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets. Only 41% of persons killed in passenger car crashes were using safety restraints. Most crashes (60%) occurred on county trunk highways and local roads. The report highlights that one person was killed every 11.0 hours and one injured every 8.2 minutes. The significance of this report lies in its detailed breakdown of risk factors, providing evidence-based insights for traffic safety interventions. The high prevalence of alcohol and speed in fatal crashes, combined with low rates of safety equipment usage among victims, underscores critical areas for enforcement and education. The data reveals specific vulnerabilities, such as the high fatality rate among motorcyclists not wearing helmets and the significant proportion of pedestrian fatalities involving alcohol. By categorizing crashes by time, location, and driver age, the report enables targeted safety strategies. The increase in registered vehicles (1.8%) alongside a decrease in licensed drivers (2.9%) suggests changing traffic patterns that may influence future safety planning. This publication remains a vital tool for understanding the epidemiology of traffic crashes in Wisconsin and guiding policy decisions to enhance roadway safety.

Key finding

In 2000, Wisconsin recorded 801 traffic fatalities and 63,890 injuries across 139,510 total crashes, with a fatality rate of 1.40 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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