Search title image

TRANSACTIONS NEWSLETTER ONLINE

March/April 2006

Facts & Figures

Fatal/Injury Crashes Fall For Fourth Straight Year

The Bay Area is steadily becoming a safer place for motorists and pedestrians alike, according to the just-released State of the System 2005 report. Across the nine-county region, the number of reported auto and truck collisions that resulted in death or injury dropped for the fourth straight year in 2004 — as did the number of motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians.

The number of injury/fatal vehicle collisions fell by 5 percent in 2004, to just under 34,000, while the number of collisions involving pedestrians dipped by 3 percent to fewer than 2,800. And while the number of auto accidents involving bicyclists rose 5 percent last year to nearly 2,400, this figure is still 16 percent below the 2000 tally.

Albert Yee, director of Highway and Arterial Operations for MTC, said the steady reduction in motorist deaths and injuries is part of a nationwide trend. “It’s partially due to increased use of safety belts,” he said. “At the same time, there are fewer alcohol-related accidents.”

The report reveals some other interesting facts. While freeway driving accounts for approximately 60 percent of all miles driven in the Bay Area, only about 25 percent of all collisions occur on freeways. And, 65 percent of collisions occurring in 2004 involved property damage only.
— Joe Curley

Injury and Fatal Motor Vehicle Collisions on Bay Area Roadways, 2000–2004

 
Collisions
Percent Change
 
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2003–04
2000–2004
Injury Collisions
36,609
38,322
37,167
35,089
33,524
–4%
–15%
Fatal Collisions
444
449
451
468
426
–9%
–4%
Total Injury and Fatal Collisions
40,053
38,771
37,618
35,557
33,950
–5%
–15%

Injury and Fatal Motor Vehicle Collisions Involving Pedestrians or Bicyclists, 2000–2004 (Bay Area)

 
Collisions
Percent Change
 
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2003–04
2000–2004
Collisions Involving Pedestrians
Injury Collisions
3,173
3,080
2,910
2,740
2,648
–3%
–17%
Fatal Collisions
134
103
111
104
100
–4%
–25%
Subtotal
3,307
3,183
3,021
2,844
2,748
–3%
–17%
Collisions Involving Bicyclists
Injury Collisions
2,810
2,566
2,321
2,254
2,357
+5%
–16%
Fatal Collisions
17
20
19
14
20
+43%
+18%
Subtotal
2,827
2,586
2,340
2,268
2,377
+5%
–16%
Total Involving Bicyclists or Pedestrians
6,134
5,769
5,361
5,112
5,125
<1%
–16%

Contents