Virginia Traffic Accident Statistics 2007

In 2007, there were 145,405 traffic crashes reported in Virginia. These crashes resulted in 68,822 injuries and 1,026 deaths. On average, 189 people were injured and 2.81 lives were lost per day due to traffic crashes. On average, a crash occurred every 3.61 minutes.

Most crashes, 61.6 percent, involved two vehicles. The next most common type of crash was single-vehicle, representing 28.9 percent of all crashes. Crashes involving 3 or more vehicles represented 9.3 percent of total crashes.

Speeding was a factor in 27,597 of the crashes, 19 percent of the total. Crashes occurred most frequently between 2 and 7 p.m., peaking between 5 and 6 p.m.

Most of the fatally injured persons, 71.5 percent, were male. Persons aged 21-30 made up the highest proportion of fatalities. The number of fatalities over 70 years of age was also high.

By a wide margin, Fairfax County was the site of the largest number of crashes and fatalities in 2007. Fairfax County also had the most registered drivers. The death rate per 1,000 Virginia licensed drivers was highest in Sussex, Charles City, and Lunenburg Counties, with death rates of 1.91, 1.25, and 0.93, respectively. The average death rate for the state was 0.22 deaths per 1,000 licensed drivers.

Persons who were fatally injured in traffic crashes were not using a seat belt or other restraint at the time of the crash 60.3 percent of the time. Injured persons were not wearing a restraint at the time of the crash 10.7 percent of the time.

Source: http://www.dmv.state.va.us/webdoc/pdf/vacrashfacts_07.pdf