Car accidents occur daily in Houston, and many of us think nothing of them most of the time. However, when we look at some of the facts about car accidents, we find sobering results. Let’s explore some of the more surprising facts about car accidents.
1. More than 1 Million People are Killed or Disabled by Car Accidents Each Year
In recent years, traffic accidents have been considered a neglected global health issue. This study reports that 93% of accident-related deaths occurred in low and middle-income countries. Researchers estimate that by 2030, road traffic injuries will be the seventh leading cause of death globally.
Half of the 3700 people killed daily in car accidents include pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, according to the World Health Organization.
2. Motorcycles Cause 15.5% of All Accidents
Motorcycle riders make up 3% of registered vehicles in the US, according to the National Safety Council. However, motorcycles account for 15.5% of all traffic fatalities and 3.4% of all injuries in recent years.
Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of death in motorcycle crashes. Using a Department of Transportation-approved motorcycle helmet can lower rider fatalities by 37%. Passengers benefit equally from wearing helmets.
3. Car Crashes Kill More Than 120 People Each Day in the U.S.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 44,000 people died in motor vehicle crashes in the United States in recent reporting years. In the last 7 years, we saw more than 4,000 deaths in a single month on multiple occasions, but never fewer than 2,000.
Every day, car crashes claim more than 120 lives in the U.S. and injure thousands worldwide—half of them pedestrians, cyclists, or motorcyclists—making road safety one of the deadliest global health crises we can’t ignore.
4. Road Traffic Crashes Are the Leading Cause of Death for People Aged 5-29
Young people are more likely to be involved in accidents than older drivers, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). This age group represents about 4% of all licensed drivers, but accounts for 8.7% of drivers in all accidents, and 6.5% of drivers in fatal crashes.
The NSC reports that the overall accident rate per 100,000 licensed drivers decreases as age increases, but only to a certain point. The rate begins to increase again when drivers hit the age of 75.
5. Car Crashes Cost Over $470 Billion in 2022
The CDC calculated this number using medical costs and estimated economic losses from lives lost. Car crashes have big effects not just on families but also on local and national economies. The money lost from crashes affects everyone in the community.
6. Texas Reports a Crash Every 57 Seconds
This was published in the Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts for 2024. In addition:
- 1 person was injured every 2 minutes and 5 seconds
- 1 person was killed every 2 hours and 7 minutes
- 251,977 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents
- 585 motorcyclists were killed in Texas in this reporting period
- Pedestrian fatalities decreased by 5%, totalling 768
- There were zero fatalities caused by bridge collapse
These numbers only include reportable crashes. Minor accidents without injuries, deaths, or significant property damage are not counted.
7. The Deadliest Days and Months
Friday, May 24, and Sunday, October 27, had the most traffic deaths. On these days, 27 people were killed.
October was the deadliest month, with 391 deaths. Not one day in the reporting period went without a traffic-related death in Texas.
8. Alcohol Plays a Big Role in Fatal Accidents
Drivers over 75 were involved in 15 alcohol-related deaths. This is only 0.31% of total drivers. Drivers aged 21-25 were involved in the highest percentage of alcohol-related fatalities at 17%, while underage drivers accounted for nearly 8%.
Harris County had the most DUI crashes in Texas with 3,357 accidents. Dallas County came next with 1,956 alcohol-related crashes. Alcohol continues to be a major factor in deadly crashes.
9. Children Are at Risk in Car Accidents
According to the CDC, many of these deaths can be prevented with appropriate attention to child passenger safety practices. 599 children under the age of 12 were killed in United States car accidents, and over 160,000 were injured. 35% of the children killed in accidents were not effectively buckled.
Young children should stay rear-facing in car seats until they reach the seat’s height or weight limit. Many parents worry about leg injuries, but studies show rear-facing seats still protect children better compared to their forward-facing peers. Bent legs are not dangerous, and staying rear-facing keeps kids safest.
10. Seeing a Doctor After a Crash Is Important
Oftentimes, after an accident, your body is flooded with adrenaline, which can mask pain from injuries. Additionally, some soft tissue injuries may not full present until hours or days later. When you choose to see a doctor immediately, you are more able to identify any hidden injuries and avoid exacerbating known ones.
Car Accident Facts Show a Serious Reality
Car accidents happen every day and can be very serious. Many deaths and injuries could be prevented with simple safety steps like wearing seatbelts, using helmets, and following traffic laws.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that nearly 24,000 people died in passenger vehicles in the most recent year, and 49% were not wearing a seatbelt. Seatbelts saved nearly 15,000 lives and could have saved over 2,500 more. Using a seatbelt lowers the risk of serious injury by up to 65% in small trucks.
Knowing these facts can help us stay safer. Watching out for young and older drivers, avoiding alcohol, and using proper child safety seats can prevent many accidents. Crashes are painful, costly, and often avoidable when people follow basic safety rules.