2009 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts

NHTSA · 2009 · ROSA P / Virginia. Dept. of Motor Vehicles

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Summary

The *2009 Virginia Traffic Crash Facts* report, published by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, provides a comprehensive statistical overview of traffic safety in Virginia for the calendar year 2009. The document serves as a resource for traffic safety professionals, aiming to identify problems, promote education, and support efforts to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities. It aggregates data on crash frequency, severity, and contributing factors, including alcohol impairment, speeding, and vehicle types, while also analyzing demographic trends and geographic distributions across counties, cities, and towns. The report utilizes statewide data collected from police reports and licensing records. Key metrics include total crashes, fatalities (deaths within 30 days), injuries, and vehicle miles traveled. The analysis categorizes crashes by type (fatal, injury, property damage), time of day, and contributing factors such as alcohol involvement and speeding violations. It also breaks down data by driver and passenger demographics, including age and gender, and compares 2009 figures to 2008 trends. Economic impact data is derived from the Crash Outcome Data Evaluation System (CODES), which tracks hospitalizations and associated costs. In 2009, Virginia recorded 116,744 reportable traffic crashes, representing a 13.70 percent decrease from 2008. Fatalities dropped by 7.92 percent to 756, and injuries decreased by 8.90 percent to 62,976. The death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled fell to 0.93. Alcohol-related crashes accounted for 316 fatalities and 6,256 injuries, while speed-related crashes resulted in 302 deaths and 15,067 injuries. Notably, 62 percent of speeding drivers involved in crashes were male, and 48 percent were aged 21–40. Alcohol-impaired driving resulted in higher severity and cost; average hospital charges for alcohol-related crashes were $35,000, compared to lower averages for other crashes. Unrestrained occupants faced death rates eight times higher and hospitalization rates twice as high as restrained occupants. Mature drivers were twice as likely to be hospitalized as other age groups. The findings highlight significant improvements in traffic safety outcomes in 2009, with consistent declines in crashes, fatalities, and injuries across most categories. The data underscores the disproportionate impact of alcohol and speeding on crash severity and costs. Geographic analysis reveals varying death rates across jurisdictions, with rural counties often exhibiting higher per-driver fatality rates than urban centers. The report emphasizes the critical role of restraint use and the economic burden of impaired driving, providing evidence to support continued enforcement and public safety initiatives aimed at reducing human behavioral risks on Virginia highways.

Key finding

Virginia recorded 116,744 traffic crashes in 2009, resulting in 756 fatalities and 62,976 injuries.

Methodology

dataset

Provenance

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Topics

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• incidence prevalence
• demographic disparities

Information type

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• Empirical Findings: crash risk outcomes