2009 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report

NHTSA · 2009 · ROSA P / Nebraska. Dept. of Roads

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Summary

The 2009 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report, prepared by the Nebraska Department of Roads, provides a comprehensive statistical analysis of motor vehicle crashes in Nebraska for that year. The report aims to document crash trends, identify contributing factors, and evaluate the effectiveness of highway safety initiatives. It highlights that while fatalities increased slightly from the record-low year of 2008, the 223 fatalities recorded in 2009 remained among the lowest in state history, with a fatality rate of 1.17 deaths per hundred million vehicle miles traveled. The data encompasses 34,665 reportable crashes, defined as incidents involving death, injury, or property damage exceeding $1,000. These incidents resulted in 17,775 injuries and an estimated economic loss of $2.19 billion. The majority of crashes were property damage only (64.2%), followed by injury crashes (35.2%) and fatal crashes (0.6%). Geographic analysis reveals that Douglas County, containing Omaha, had the highest number of fatalities (29), while 32 counties experienced no fatalities. Crash frequency peaked between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and fatal crashes were most prevalent between noon and 9:00 p.m. Key findings identify specific risk factors and demographic trends. Drivers aged 15–24 were disproportionately involved in crashes, accounting for 30.2% of all crashes and 25.4% of fatal crashes. Male drivers represented 56.4% of all crash drivers but were involved in 74.2% of fatal crashes. Alcohol involvement increased with crash severity, appearing in 36.1% of fatal crashes, with drivers aged 21–34 comprising the majority of alcohol-involved incidents. Restraint use was low among those severely injured or killed; only 31.6% of fatalities and 51.3% of disabling injuries involved seat belt use, despite a statewide observed usage rate of 84.8%. Additionally, motorcycle crashes decreased by 13.8% to 538, breaking a decade-long upward trend, while crashes involving animals increased to 3,734. The report concludes that Nebraska’s highway safety efforts, including the Strategic Highway Safety Plan focusing on seat belt use, drunk driving reduction, and teenage driver safety, have contributed to historically low fatality rates. However, it emphasizes the need for continued vigilance and enforcement. The data supports ongoing campaigns to improve seat belt compliance, particularly among high-risk groups, and to address alcohol impairment, which remains a significant factor in severe crashes. The report serves as a baseline for future safety strategies and policy adjustments.

Key finding

Nebraska recorded 223 traffic fatalities and 34,665 total crashes in 2009, with a fatality rate of 1.17 per hundred million vehicle miles traveled.

Methodology

dataset

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