Contributing Factors to Virginia Traffic Crashes

• In 2007, 93.2 percent of all traffic crashes occurred after a driver violated a traffic law. However, a driver violated a traffic law in just 62.8 percent of fatal crashes.
• Violation of a speed law contributed to 5.1 percent of all crashes, and 14.3 percent of fatal crashes.
• The driver actions which most frequently contributed to crashes were following too closely (a factor in 10.9 percent of crashes) and failure to yield (8.4 percent). The driver actions most frequently cited in fatal accidents were speeding (13.7 percent) and failure to yield (5.3 percent).
• Approximately 4.6 percent of drivers involved in crashes were drinking prior to the crash. About 18.9 percent of drivers involved in fatal crashes had been drinking.
• Fatigued drivers made up 0.6 percent of drivers in crashes, while 0.7 percent were apparently asleep at the time of the accident. One percent of drivers in fatal accidents were fatigued, and 2.9 percent were apparently asleep.
• Most vehicles involved in traffic crashes were going straight at the time of the accident. This is also true of vehicles involved in fatal crashes, although vehicles which were run off the road also make up a large proportion.
• Dark, unlighted roads are the site of just 15.2 percent of all crashes, but 33.8 percent of fatal crashes occur in such areas. Most crashes, both fatal and overall, occur in daylight conditions.

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