U.S. Department Of Transportation. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Table 70. Drivers of Passenger Vehicles in Fatal Crashes by Driver-Related Factors
and Violations Recorded, 2009

Driver-Related Factors

Single-Vehicle Crashes

Multiple-Vehicle Crashes

Total

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Number

Percent

Driving too fast for conditions or in excess of posted speed limit

5,253

30.4%

2,340

10.0%

7,593

18.7%

Failure to keep in proper lane

4,007

23.2%

2,630

11.2%

6,637

16.3%

Under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication

3,941

22.8%

1,994

8.5%

5,935

14.6%

Inattentive (talking, eating, etc.)

1,998

11.6%

1,418

6.1%

3,416

8.4%

Failure to yield right-of-way

278

1.6%

2,497

10.7%

2,775

6.8%

Overcorrecting

1,589

9.2%

308

1.3%

1,897

4.7%

Failure to obey traffic signs

283

1.6%

1,397

6.0%

1,680

4.1%

Driving on wrong side of road

317

1.8%

853

3.6%

1,170

2.9%

Erratic or reckless driving

689

4.0%

384

1.6%

1,073

2.6%

Making improper turn

642

3.7%

362

1.5%

1,004

2.5%

Drowsy, asleep, fatigued

486

2.8%

190

0.8%

676

1.7%

Ill, passed out, blackout

318

1.8%

124

0.5%

442

1.1%

Operating without required equipment

261

1.5%

139

0.6%

400

1.0%

Noncompliance with physical or other imposed restrictions

179

1.0%

134

0.6%

313

0.8%

Improper lane change

72

0.4%

228

1.0%

300

0.7%

Following Improperly

31

0.2%

264

1.1%

295

0.7%

Passing with insufficient sight distance

45

0.3%

190

0.8%

235

0.6%

Driving on shoulder

180

1.0%

14

0.1%

194

0.5%

Cellular telephone in use in vehicle

84

0.5%

88

0.4%

172

0.4%

Road rage/aggressive driving

93

0.5%

63

0.3%

156

0.4%

Noncompliance with graduated drivers' licenses restrictions

86

0.5%

50

0.2%

136

0.3%

Passing where prohibited

51

0.3%

84

0.4%

135

0.3%

Operator inexperience

84

0.5%

39

0.2%

123

0.3%

Carrying hazardous cargo improperly

50

0.3%

69

0.3%

119

0.3%

Vehicle in road

31

0.2%

84

0.4%

115

0.3%

Live animals in road

86

0.5%

27

0.1%

113

0.3%

Other physical impairment (includes paraplegic)

56

0.3%

49

0.2%

105

0.3%

Phantom vehicle

51

0.3%

47

0.2%

98

0.2%

Pedestrian, pedalcyclist, or other nonmotorist in roadway

65

0.4%

13

0.1%

78

0.2%

Emotional (e.g. depresssion, angry, disturbed)

49

0.3%

28

0.1%

77

0.2%

Stopped in roadway

3

*

71

0.3%

74

0.2%

Driving wrong way on one-way trafficway

3

*

59

0.3%

62

0.2%

Starting or backing improperly

31

0.2%

17

0.1%

48

0.1%

Passing on wrong side

19

0.1%

29

0.1%

48

0.1%

Failing to dim lights or to have lights on when required

16

0.1%

27

0.1%

43

0.1%

             

Driver-Related Factor(s) Recorded

11,684

76.5%

10,719

51.5%

22,403

62.1%

No Driver-Related Factors Recorded

3,584

23.5%

10,114

48.5%

13,698

37.9%

Total

15,268

100.0%

20,833

100.0%

36,101

100.0%

             

Moving Violation(s) Recorded

1,790

11.7%

2,717

13.0%

4,507

12.5%

No Moving Violations Recorded

13,478

88.3%

18,116

87.0%

31,594

87.5%

Total

15,268

100.0%

20,833

100.0%

36,101

100.0%

*Less than 0.05 percent.

Note: A passenger vehicle is defined here as a car, light truck (including pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles), or motorcycle.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

 

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