2001 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report

NHTSA · 2001 · ROSA P / Nebraska. Dept. of Roads

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Summary

The 2001 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report, published by the Nebraska Department of Roads, addresses the public health crisis of motor vehicle crashes in Nebraska. The report aims to provide comprehensive data on crash frequency, severity, and contributing factors to inform transportation safety professionals and increase driver awareness. It highlights that driver error is the primary cause of crashes and emphasizes the role of data analysis in identifying patterns to reduce crash numbers and severity. The report analyzes data from 47,894 reportable crashes in Nebraska during 2001, defined as incidents involving death, injury, or property damage exceeding $500. The dataset includes 215 fatal crashes, 17,580 injury crashes, and 30,099 property damage-only (PDO) crashes, resulting in 246 fatalities and 26,751 injuries. The analysis covers various dimensions, including geographic distribution by county, roadway types, time of day, seasonality, driver demographics, restraint use, vehicle body styles, and alcohol involvement. Comparative data from 2000 and long-term trends from 1992–2001 are used to identify shifts in crash patterns. Key findings indicate a death rate of 1.6 per 100 million vehicle miles, showing a general downward trend since 1961. Fatal crashes decreased by 27 from the previous year, yet alcohol involvement in fatal crashes rose to 38.1%. Drivers aged 15–24 were disproportionately involved in crashes, comprising 34.2% of all crash drivers and 26.3% of fatal crash drivers. Males accounted for 57.8% of drivers in all crashes but 76.4% of fatal crashes. Restraint use was low among victims; only 28.3% of those killed and 46% of those with disabling injuries were belted, despite a statewide usage rate of 70.2%. Motorcycle crashes increased significantly to 336, the highest since 1994, correlating with rising motorcycle registrations. Improper driving was the most cited major contributing human factor, with "failure to yield" and "following too closely" being prominent specific errors. The report concludes that while overall crash rates have declined due to improvements in vehicle design, roadway engineering, and enforcement, significant risks remain. The data underscores the critical need for continued focus on driver behavior, particularly regarding alcohol impairment, speed, and restraint use. The findings support targeted safety interventions, such as enhanced enforcement of seat belt laws and alcohol-related offenses, and highlight the growing safety concerns associated with motorcycle usage. The report serves as a foundational resource for policymakers and safety professionals to develop evidence-based strategies for reducing traffic fatalities and injuries in Nebraska.

Key finding

Alcohol was involved in 38.1% of fatal crashes in Nebraska in 2001, a rate substantially higher than its involvement in injury or property damage only crashes.

Methodology

dataset

Sample size: 47894

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