NCJ Number
142947
Date Published
1992
Length
53 pages
Annotation
Kentucky's 1991 Traffic Accident Facts report contains statistical information on fatal, injury, and property damage accidents and indicates that traffic accidents decreased by 9 percent between 1990 and 1991.
Abstract
The report is based on accident data submitted to the Accident Unit of the Kentucky State Police's Information Services Branch. These data show that 724 fatal accidents were reported in 1991, a decrease of 4 percent over 1990. A total of 2,552 fewer nonfatal injury accidents occurred, a decrease of 7 percent. Property damage accidents decreased by 10 percent, with 11,207 fewer accidents reported. During 1991, 828 persons were killed and 50,707 persons were injured. Moving vehicles were involved in 76 percent of all accidents and accounted for 45 percent of all fatalities, while 14 percent of all accidents involved collisions with fixed objects. Most accidents occurred in urban areas, but the majority of fatal accidents took place in rural areas. Of 245,043 vehicles involved in accidents, 91 percent were passenger cars. Of 221,842 drivers involved in accidents, 1,063 drivers were involved in fatal accidents. Relatively high accident rates were observed for drivers aged 34 years and under; 29,977 teenage drivers were involved in traffic accidents during 1991. Sixty percent of all accidents occurred during daylight hours, 44 percent of fatal accidents happened at night, and 54 percent of fatal accidents occurred on weekends. Only 12 percent of those using seat belts were killed or injured, compared to 20 percent of those not restrained. Data are also provided on hit and run, truck, and pedestrian accidents; contributing factors to accidents; accident rates by county; and Kentucky's Fatal Accident Reporting System. Tables and figures