2000 Work Zone Traffic Crash Facts

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Prepared by:

Analysis Division

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

U.S. Department of Transportation

Washington, D.C.

March 2002

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2000 Work Zone Traffic Crash Fact Summary

> The number of people killed annually in motor vehicle crashes that
> occur in work zones averaged 829 from 1996 to 2000.
>
> On an average from 1996 to 2000, 16% of the fatalities resulting from
> crashes
>
> in work zones involved non-motorists (pedestrians and pedalcyclists).
>
> Approximately 42,000 people annually were injured as a result of motor
>
> vehicle crashes in work zones from 1996 to 2000.
>
> In 2000, 1,093 fatalities resulted from motor vehicle crashes in work
> zones. Twenty-four percent of these fatalities resulted from crashes
> involving large trucks.
>
> In 2000, 31% of all fatal work zone crashes occurred on the weekend,
>
> while only 13% of all fatal large truck work zone crashes occurred on
> the
>
> weekend.
>
> In 2000, approximately half of all fatal work zone crashes occurred
> during the
>
> day, while about two-thirds of fatal large truck work zone crashes
> occurred
>
> during the day (53% vs. 65%).
>
> In 2000, the percentage of fatal work zone crashes occurring on urban
> interstates
>
> was almost twice the percentage of all fatal crashes occurring on
> urban
>
> interstates (11% vs. 6%).

In 2000, the percentage of fatal large truck work zone crashes occurring
on urban interstates was much higher than the percentage of all fatal
large truck crashes occurring on urban interstates (15% vs. 9%).

> In 2000, approximately 60% of fatal work zone crashes occurred on
> roads with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or greater.

Prepared by the FMCSA Analysis Division

March 29, 2002

***2000 Work Zone Traffic Crash Facts***

**[INTRODUCTION]{.underline}**

The safe and efficient flow of traffic through construction and
maintenance work zones is of particular concern to the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Almost 30 percent of work zone
crashes involve large trucks. Understanding how, where and when work
zone crashes occur supports efforts to create effective countermeasures
to prevent future crashes.

The descriptive statistics about work zone crashes presented in this
report are not exhaustive, but do provide a basic understanding of the
characteristics of these crashes.

**[ABOUT THIS REPORT]{.underline}**

This report presents descriptive statistics for both work zone-related
motor vehicle crashes in general as well as work zone-related large
truck crashes. In addition to the number of people injured and killed in
work zone crashes, the following information is presented:

When fatal work zone crashes occur: Time of Day, Day of Week, Season
(Tables 5-7)

Where fatal work zone crashes occur: Roadway Function Class, Speed
Limit, Traffic Flow, Roadway Alignment, Roadway Profile, Relation to
Roadway (Tables 8-13)

How fatal work zone crashes occur: Number of Vehicles, First Harmful
Event, Manner of

Collision (Tables 14-16)

The occurrence of driver violations (Tables 17-18)

Fatal work zone crashes by State (Table 19)

Data presented in this report for fatal crashes were generated from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality
Analysis Reporting System. Data for nonfatal crashes were generated by
NHTSA's General Estimates System.

A work zone crash is a motor vehicle traffic crash that occurs in the
vicinity of highway construction, highway maintenance or utility work.
The ability to identify whether a crash occurred in a work zone differs
from State to State, due in large part to different definitions of a
work zone.

######### Table 1

**Fatalities in Work Zone Crashes** **by Person Type, 1996 to 2000**

  -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------
  **Person Type**      **1996**   **1997**   **1998**   **1999**   **2000**    **5-Year    
                                                                               Average**   

  Motor Vehicle        584        600        658        737        916         699         84%
  Occupant                                                                                 

  Non-Motorist         133        93         114        135        177         130         16%

  **Total**            **717**    **693**    **772**    **872**    **1,093**   **829**     **100%**
  -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

From 1996 to 2000, the number of people killed in motor vehicle crashes
in work zones

has gone from a low of 693 in 1997 to a high of 1,093 in 2000, for an
average of 829 per

year.

On average from 1996 to 2000, 16% of the fatalities resulting from
crashes in work zones

were non-motorists (pedestrians and pedalcyclists).

In 2000, 1,093 fatalities resulted from motor vehicle crashes in work
zones, about 3% of total

fatalities (41,821).

Figure 1

![](media/image3.wmf)

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

## 

## **Table 2**

**Fatalities in Large Truck Work Zone Crashes**

by Person Type, 1996 to 2000

  ------------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
  **Person Type**          **1996**   **1997**   **1998**   **1999**   **2000**   **5-Year    
                                                                                  Average**   

  Truck Occupant           23         17         33         36         42         30          14%

  Other Vehicle Occupants  128        140        165        162        191        157         74%

  Non-Motorist             25         21         23         29         31         26          12%

  **Total**                **176**    **178**    **221**    **227**    **264**    **213**     **100%**
  ------------------------ ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

In 2000, 264 fatalities resulted from large truck crashes in work zones,
about 5% of

fatalities in large truck crashes (5,211).

Twenty-four percent of work zone fatalities that occurred in 2000
involved large trucks in

the crash (264 out of 1,093).

From 1996 to 2000, an average of 213 people were killed in large truck
crashes in areas

designated as work zones, from a high of 264 deaths in 2000 to a low of
176 deaths in 1996.

In large truck work zone crashes for the time period 1996-2000, 12% of
the fatalities were

non-motorists.

Figure 2

![](media/image4.wmf)

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

######### 

######### 

######### 

######### 

######### Table 3

**People Injured In Work Zone Crashes by Person Type, 1996 to 2000**

  -------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------
  **Person Type**      **1996**     **1997**     **1998**     **1999**     **2000**     **5-Year     
                                                                                        Average**    

  Motor Vehicle        36,000       34,000       38,000       49,000       50,000       41,000       98%
  Occupant                                                                                           

  Non-Motorist         1,000        1,000        1,000        2,000        2,000        1,000        2%

  **Total**            **37,000**   **35,000**   **39,000**   **51,000**   **52,000**   **42,000**   **100%**
  -------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ----------

Source: NHTSA's General Estimates System

[NOTE]{.underline}: Estimates rounded to nearest thousand

Over the last 5 years, non-motorists constituted about 2% of people
injured in work zone

crashes.

Figure 3

![](media/image5.wmf)

Source: NHTSA's General Estimates System

Approximately 52,000 people were injured as a result of motor vehicle
crashes in work zones

in 2000, about 2% of the 3,189,000 persons injured in motor vehicle
crashes.

**[Table 4]{.underline}**

**People Injured In Large Truck Work Zone Crashes**

**by Person Type, 1996 to 2000**

  ---------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------------
  **Person Type**        **1996**    **1997**    **1998**    **1999**    **2000**    **5-Year
                                                                                     Average**

  Motor Vehicle Occupant 2,000       3,000       3,000       5,000       5,000       4,000

  Non-Motorist           \*          \*          \*          \*          \*          \*

  **Total**              **2,000**   **3,000**   **3,000**   **5,000**   **5,000**   **4,000**
  ---------------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- --------------

Source: NHTSA's General Estimates System

\* less than 500 injured people

[NOTE]{.underline}: Estimates rounded to nearest thousand

Approximately 5,000 people were injured in large truck work zone crashes
in 2000, about 4%

of the 140,000 people injured in large truck crashes that year.

About 10% of people injured in work zone traffic crashes (5,000/52,000)
in 2000 were injured

in crashes involving large trucks.

**[Table 5]{.underline}**

###### Fatal Crashes by Time of Day and Work Zone, 2000

  ----------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
  **Time of   **Fatal      **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**
  Day**       Crashes**               Work Zone              Large Truck            Large Truck 
                                      Crashes**              Crashes**              Work Zone   
                                                                                    Crashes**   

  Night       18,888       50%        458         47%        1,463       32%        75          35%

  Day         18,521       50%        508         53%        3,056       68%        141         65%

  **Total**   **37,409**   **100%**   **966**     **100%**   **4,519**   **100%**   **216**     **100%**
  ----------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

Half of all fatal work zone crashes occurred during the day (50%), while
65% of fatal large truck work zone crashes occurred during the day.

## **Table 6**

**Fatal Crashes by Day of Week and Work Zone, 2000**

+-------------+------+---+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+
| **Day of    | **F  | * | **    | *  | *      | *  | *      | *  |
| Week**      | atal | * | Fatal | *% | *Fatal | *% | *Fatal | *% |
|             | C    | % | Work  | ** | Large  | ** | Large  | ** |
|             | rash | * | Zone  |    | Truck  |    | Truck  |    |
|             | es** | * | Cras  |    | Cra    |    | Work   |    |
|             |      |   | hes** |    | shes** |    | Zone   |    |
|             |      |   |       |    |        |    | Cra    |    |
|             |      |   |       |    |        |    | shes** |    |
+-------------+------+---+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+
| Weekend     | 12   | 3 | 299   | 3  | 677    | 1  | 29     | 1  |
| (Sat & Sun) | ,912 | 5 |       | 1% |        | 5% |        | 3% |
|             |      | % |       |    |        |    |        |    |
+-------------+------+---+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+
| Weekdays    | 24   | 6 | 667   | 6  | 3,842  | 8  | 187    | 8  |
| (Mon-Fri)   | ,492 | 5 |       | 9% |        | 5% |        | 7% |
|             |      | % |       |    |        |    |        |    |
+-------------+------+---+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+
| Unknown     | 5    | \ | 0     | 0% | 0      | 0% | 0      | 0% |
|             |      | * |       |    |        |    |        |    |
+-------------+------+---+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+
| ####        | **   | * | **    | ** | **4    | ** | *      | ** |
|             | 37,4 | * | 966** | 10 | ,519** | 10 | *216** | 10 |
| #### Total  | 09** | 1 |       | 0% |        | 0% |        | 0% |
|             |      | 0 |       | ** |        | ** |        | ** |
|             |      | 0 |       |    |        |    |        |    |
|             |      | % |       |    |        |    |        |    |
|             |      | * |       |    |        |    |        |    |
|             |      | * |       |    |        |    |        |    |
+-------------+------+---+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

\* Less than one percent

Over twice as many fatal work zone crashes occurred on weekdays than on
weekends.

However, based on the number of fatal crashes in work zones per day,
fewer fatal

crashes occurred in work zones on weekdays (667/5=133 vs. 299/2=150).
For large trucks,

over six times as many fatal work zone crashes occurred on weekdays, or
about 37 per

weekday and 15 per weekend day.

## 

## 

## 

## **Table 7**

####### Fatal Crashes by Season and Work Zone, 2000

+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+
| **   | **A  | **  | *      | **  | *      | **  | **Fatal  | **  |
| Seas | ll** | %** | *Fatal | %** | *Fatal | %** | Large    | %** |
| on** |      |     | Work   |     | Large  |     | Truck    |     |
|      | **F  |     | Zone   |     | Truck  |     | Work     |     |
|      | atal |     | Cra    |     | Cra    |     | Zone     |     |
|      | C    |     | shes** |     | shes** |     | C        |     |
|      | rash |     |        |     |        |     | rashes** |     |
|      | es** |     |        |     |        |     |          |     |
+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+
| Wi   | 8    | 23% | 155    | 16% | 1,065  | 24% | 28       | 13% |
| nter | ,511 |     |        |     |        |     |          |     |
+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+
| Sp   | 9    | 24% | 264    | 27% | 1,062  | 23% | 65       | 30% |
| ring | ,037 |     |        |     |        |     |          |     |
+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+
| Su   | 10   | 27% | 288    | 30% | 1,216  | 27% | 64       | 30% |
| mmer | ,186 |     |        |     |        |     |          |     |
+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+
| Fall | 9    | 26% | 259    | 27% | 1,176  | 26% | 59       | 27% |
|      | ,675 |     |        |     |        |     |          |     |
+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+
| *    | **   | **  | *      | **  | **4    | **  | **216**  | **  |
| *Tot | 37,4 | 100 | *966** | 100 | ,519** | 100 |          | 100 |
| al** | 09** | %** |        | %** |        | %** |          | %** |
+------+------+-----+--------+-----+--------+-----+----------+-----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

Fatal work zone crashes, regardless of whether a large truck was
involved, occurred least

often in the winter. This may be the result of most work zones being set
up in the spring

through fall.

######## **Table 8**

**Fatal Crashes by Roadway Function Class and Work Zone, 2000**

  ------------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
  **Roadway Function **Fatal      **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**
  Class**            Crashes**               Work Zone              Large Truck            Large Truck 
                                             Crashes**              Crashes**              Work Zone   
                                                                                           Crashes**   

  Rural-Interstate   2,699        7%         131         14%        639         14%        57          26%

  Rural-Other        18,020       48%        375         39%        2,234       50%        74          34%

  **Subtotal --      **20,719**   **55%**    **506**     **53%**    **2,873**   **64%**    **131**     **60%**
  Rural**                                                                                              

  Urban-Interstate   2,115        6%         109         11%        426         9%         33          15%

  Urban-Other        12,316       33%        303         31%        977         22%        40          19%

  **Subtotal --      **14,431**   **39%**    **412**     **42%**    **1,403**   **31%**    **73**      **34%**
  Urban**                                                                                              

  Unknown            2,259        6%         48          5%         243         5%         12          6%

  **Total**          **37,409**   **100%**   **966**     **100%**   **4,519**   **100%**   **216**     **100%**
  ------------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

The majority of fatal motor vehicle crashes, regardless of the vehicles
involved or

whether they occurred in a work zone or not, occur in rural areas. Based
on data from the

Federal Highway Administration's [Highway Statistics 2000]{.underline},
only 39% of all vehicle miles

traveled and 58% of all truck travel are on rural roads.

The percentage of fatal work zone crashes occurring on urban interstates
was almost twice

the percentage of all fatal crashes occurring on urban interstates (11%
vs. 6%).

For fatal large truck crashes, the percentage of work zone crashes
occurring on urban

interstates was also much higher than the percentage of all fatal large
truck crashes occurring

on urban interstates (15% vs. 9%).

######## **Table 9**

Fatal Crashes by Speed Limit and Work Zone, 2000

+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| *      | **F  | *  | **F    | *  | *      | *  | **Fatal   | **  |
| *Speed | atal | *% | atal** | *% | *Fatal | *% | Large     | %** |
| L      | C    | ** |        | ** | Large  | ** | Truck     |     |
| imit** | rash |    | **Work |    | T      |    | Work**    |     |
|        | es** |    | Zone   |    | ruck** |    |           |     |
|        |      |    | Cra    |    |        |    | **Zone    |     |
|        |      |    | shes** |    | **Cra  |    | Crashes** |     |
|        |      |    |        |    | shes** |    |           |     |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| 1-50   | 16   | 4  | 383    | 4  | 1,313  | 2  | 63        | 29% |
| mph    | ,875 | 5% |        | 0% |        | 9% |           |     |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| 55-75  | 19   | 5  | 568    | 5  | 3,149  | 7  | 150       | 70% |
| mph    | ,566 | 2% |        | 9% |        | 0% |           |     |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| U      | 968  | 3% | 15     | 1% | 57     | 1% | 3         | 1%  |
| nknown |      |    |        |    |        |    |           |     |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| **T    | **   | ** | *      | ** | **4    | ** | **216**   | **  |
| otal** | 37,4 | 10 | *966** | 10 | ,519** | 10 |           | 100 |
|        | 09** | 0% |        | 0% |        | 0% |           | %** |
|        |      | ** |        | ** |        | ** |           |     |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

The majority of fatal work zone crashes for all vehicles and large
trucks occurred on roads

with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or greater (59% and 70%,
respectively).

######## **Table 10**

####### Fatal Crashes by Traffic Flow and Work Zone, 2000

+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+
| **      | **F  | *  | **F    | **  | *      | *  | **Fatal | *    |
| Traffic | atal | *% | atal** | %** | *Fatal | *% | Large   | *%** |
| Flow**  | C    | ** |        |     | Large  | ** | Truck   |      |
|         | rash |    | **Work |     | T      |    | Work    |      |
|         | es** |    | Zone   |     | ruck** |    | Zone    |      |
|         |      |    | Cra    |     |        |    | Cr      |      |
|         |      |    | shes** |     | **Cra  |    | ashes** |      |
|         |      |    |        |     | shes** |    |         |      |
+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+
| Not     | 24   | 6  | 471    | 49% | 2,456  | 5  | 86      | 40%  |
| Divided | ,021 | 4% |        |     |        | 4% |         |      |
+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+
| Me      | 9    | 2  | 298    | 31% | 1,439  | 3  | 76      | 35%  |
| dian-No | ,248 | 5% |        |     |        | 2% |         |      |
| Barrier |      |    |        |     |        |    |         |      |
+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+
| Median  | 3    | 8% | 172    | 18% | 537    | 1  | 51      | 24%  |
| w/      | ,057 |    |        |     |        | 2% |         |      |
| Barrier |      |    |        |     |        |    |         |      |
+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+
| Unknown | 1    | 3% | 25     | 2%  | 87     | 2% | 3       | 1%   |
|         | ,083 |    |        |     |        |    |         |      |
+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+
| **      | **   | ** | *      | **  | **4    | ** | **216** | **10 |
| Total** | 37,4 | 10 | *966** | 100 | ,519** | 10 |         | 0%** |
|         | 09** | 0% |        | %** |        | 0% |         |      |
|         |      | ** |        |     |        | ** |         |      |
+---------+------+----+--------+-----+--------+----+---------+------+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

Although the majority of fatal large truck crashes occurred on roads
that are not divided (54%), the

majority of fatal large truck work zone crashes occurred on roads that
are divided (35% + 24%=59%).

**[Table 11]{.underline}**

###### Fatal Crashes by Roadway Alignment and Work Zone, 2000

+-------+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| **Ro  | **    | *  | **F    | *  | *      | *  | **Fatal   | **  |
| adway | Fatal | *% | atal** | *% | *Fatal | *% | Large     | %** |
| A     | Cras  | ** |        | ** | Large  | ** | Truck     |     |
| lignm | hes** |    | **Work |    | T      |    | Work**    |     |
| ent** |       |    | Zone   |    | ruck** |    |           |     |
|       |       |    | Cra    |    |        |    | **Zone    |     |
|       |       |    | shes** |    | **Cra  |    | Crashes** |     |
|       |       |    |        |    | shes** |    |           |     |
+-------+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| Str   | 2     | 7  | 786    | 8  | 3,689  | 8  | 189       | 88% |
| aight | 7,717 | 4% |        | 1% |        | 2% |           |     |
+-------+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| Curve | 9,291 | 2  | 174    | 1  | 817    | 1  | 25        | 12% |
|       |       | 5% |        | 8% |        | 8% |           |     |
+-------+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| Un    | 401   | 1% | 6      | 1% | 13     | \* | 2         | \*  |
| known |       |    |        |    |        |    |           |     |
+-------+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+
| **To  | **37, | ** | *      | ** | **4    | ** | **216**   | **  |
| tal** | 409** | 10 | *966** | 10 | ,519** | 10 |           | 100 |
|       |       | 0% |        | 0% |        | 0% |           | %** |
|       |       | ** |        | ** |        | ** |           |     |
+-------+-------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+-----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

\* Less than one percent

The vast majority of fatal crashes occurred on straight roads (74%). The
same is true for all work zone

crashes (81%), large truck involved crashes (82%), and large truck work
zone crashes (88%).

**[Table 12]{.underline}**

**Fatal Crashes by Roadway Profile and Work Zone, 2000**

  ----------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
  **Roadway   **Fatal      **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**
  Profile**   Crashes**               Work Zone              Large Truck            Large Truck 
                                      Crashes**              Crashes**              Work Zone   
                                                                                    Crashes**   

  Level       26,608       71%        698         72%        3,264       72%        153         71%

  Grade       8,909        24%        236         25%        1,102       24%        53          24%

  Other /Unk  1,892        5%         32          3%         153         4%         10          5%

  **Total**   **37,409**   **100%**   **966**     **100%**   **4,519**   **100%**   **216**     **100%**
  ----------- ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

About three times as many fatal crashes occurred on level roadways than
on grade roadways,

regardless of whether there is a work zone present or a large truck
involved.

######## **Table 13**

# Fatal Crashes by Relation to Roadway and Work Zone, 2000

  ------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------
  **Relation   **Fatal      **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**      **Fatal     **%**
  to Roadway** Crashes**               Work Zone              Large Truck            Large Truck 
                                       Crashes**              Crashes**              Work Zone   
                                                                                     Crashes**   

  On Roadway   21,821       58%        611         63%        3,948       87%        186         86%

  Off Roadway  15,298       41%        353         37%        567         13%        30          14%

  Unknown      290          1%         2           \*         4           \*         0           0%

  **Total**    **37,409**   **100%**   **966**     **100%**   **4,519**   **100%**   **216**     **100%**
  ------------ ------------ ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------- ----------

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

\* Less than one percent

While almost twice as many fatal work zone crashes involving all
vehicles occurred on the

roadway compared to off the roadway, more than 6 times as many fatal
large truck work zone

crashes occurred on the roadway compared to off the roadway (86% vs.
14%).

##### **Table 14**

####### Fatal Crashes by Number of Vehicles Involved and Work Zone, 2000

+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+----+
| **     | **F  | *  | *      | *  | *      | *  | **Fatal   | *  |
| Number | atal | *% | *Fatal | *% | *Fatal | *% | Large     | *% |
| of**   | C    | ** | Work   | ** | Large  | ** | Truck     | ** |
|        | rash |    | Zone   |    | Truck  |    | Work Zone |    |
| **Ve   | es** |    | Cra    |    | Cra    |    | Crashes** |    |
| hicles |      |    | shes** |    | shes** |    |           |    |
| Invo   |      |    |        |    |        |    |           |    |
| lved** |      |    |        |    |        |    |           |    |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+----+
| One    | 21   | 5  | 495    | 5  | 802    | 1  | 34        | 1  |
|        | ,052 | 6% |        | 1% |        | 8% |           | 6% |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+----+
| Two    | 13   | 3  | 338    | 3  | 2,950  | 6  | 114       | 5  |
|        | ,766 | 7% |        | 5% |        | 5% |           | 3% |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+----+
| More   | 2    | 7% | 133    | 1  | 767    | 1  | 68        | 3  |
| than 2 | ,591 |    |        | 4% |        | 7% |           | 1% |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+----+
| **T    | **   | ** | *      | ** | **4    | ** | **216**   | ** |
| otal** | 37,4 | 10 | *966** | 10 | ,519** | 10 |           | 10 |
|        | 09** | 0% |        | 0% |        | 0% |           | 0% |
|        |      | ** |        | ** |        | ** |           | ** |
+--------+------+----+--------+----+--------+----+-----------+----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

While the majority of all fatal crashes involved only one vehicle (56%),
the majority of large

truck fatal crashes occurring in work zones involved two or more
vehicles ( 84%).

Over 80% of fatal large truck crashes involved two or more vehicles,
regardless of

whether a work zone was present.

######## **Table 15**

# Fatal Crashes by First Harmful Event and Work Zone, 2000

+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| **First Harmful | *   | *  | **F  | *  | **    | *  | **    | *  |
| Event**         | *Fa | *% | atal | *% | Fatal | *% | Fatal | *% |
|                 | tal | ** | Work | ** | Large | ** | Large | ** |
| **Collision     | Cra |    | Zone |    | Truck |    | Truck |    |
| With:**         | she |    | C    |    | Cras  |    | Work  |    |
|                 | s** |    | rash |    | hes** |    | Zone  |    |
|                 |     |    | es** |    |       |    | Cras  |    |
|                 |     |    |      |    |       |    | hes** |    |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| Motor Vehicle   | 15, | 4  | 427  | 4  | 3,515 | 7  | 162   | 7  |
| in Transport    | 435 | 1% |      | 4% |       | 8% |       | 5% |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| Fixed Object    | 11, | 3  | 233  | 2  | 331   | 8% | 17    | 8% |
|                 | 302 | 0% |      | 4% |       |    |       |    |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| Pedestrian      | 4,  | 1  | 131  | 1  | 285   | 6% | 19    | 9% |
|                 | 441 | 2% |      | 4% |       |    |       |    |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| Non-Collision   | 4,  | 1  | 85   | 9% | 236   | 5% | 7     | 3% |
|                 | 423 | 2% |      |    |       |    |       |    |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| Not Fixed       | 1,  | 5% | 90   | 9% | 150   | 3% | 11    | 5% |
| Object          | 774 |    |      |    |       |    |       |    |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| Unknown         | 34  | \* | 0    | 0% | 2     | \* | 0     | 0% |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+
| **Total**       | *   | ** | **9  | ** | **4,  | ** | **    | ** |
|                 | *37 | 10 | 66** | 10 | 519** | 10 | 216** | 10 |
|                 | ,40 | 0% |      | 0% |       | 0% |       | 0% |
|                 | 9** | ** |      | ** |       | ** |       | ** |
+-----------------+-----+----+------+----+-------+----+-------+----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

\* Less than one percent

A vast majority of large truck fatal crashes, whether or not in a work
zone, occurred as a

result of a collision with another moving vehicle.

######## **Table 16**

**Two-Vehicle Fatal Crashes by Manner of Collision and Work Zone, 2000**

+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| **Manner of      | *   | *  | *   | *  | **    | * | **    | *  |
| Collision**      | *Fa | *% | *Fa | *% | Fatal | * | Fatal | *% |
|                  | tal | ** | tal | ** | Large | % | Large | ** |
|                  | Cra |    | W   |    | Truck | * | Truck |    |
|                  | she |    | ork |    | Cras  | * | Work  |    |
|                  | s** |    | Z   |    | hes** |   | Zone  |    |
|                  |     |    | one |    |       |   | Cras  |    |
|                  |     |    | Cra |    |       |   | hes** |    |
|                  |     |    | she |    |       |   |       |    |
|                  |     |    | s** |    |       |   |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| Rear-end         | 1,  | 1  | 56  | 1  | 546   | 1 | 31    | 2  |
|                  | 388 | 0% |     | 7% |       | 9 |       | 7% |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | % |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| Head-on          | 4,  | 3  | 112 | 3  | 868   | 2 | 28    | 2  |
|                  | 558 | 3% |     | 3% |       | 9 |       | 5% |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | % |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| Angle            | 6,  | 4  | 124 | 3  | 1,256 | 4 | 34    | 3  |
|                  | 597 | 8% |     | 7% |       | 3 |       | 0% |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | % |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| Side-Swipe: Same | 269 | 2% | 10  | 3% | 65    | 2 | 5     | 4% |
| direction        |     |    |     |    |       | % |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| Side-Swipe:      | 106 | 1% | 1   | \* | 55    | 2 | 1     | 1% |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | % |       |    |
| Opposition       |     |    |     |    |       |   |       |    |
| direction        |     |    |     |    |       |   |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| Not              | 848 | 6% | 35  | 1  | 160   | 5 | 15    | 1  |
| Ap               |     |    |     | 0% |       | % |       | 3% |
| plicable/Unknown |     |    |     |    |       |   |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+
| **Total**        | *   | ** | *   | ** | **2,  | * | **    | ** |
|                  | *13 | 10 | *33 | 10 | 950** | * | 114** | 10 |
|                  | ,76 | 0% | 8** | 0% |       | 1 |       | 0% |
|                  | 6** | ** |     | ** |       | 0 |       | ** |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | 0 |       |    |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | % |       |    |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | * |       |    |
|                  |     |    |     |    |       | * |       |    |
+------------------+-----+----+-----+----+-------+---+-------+----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

\* Less than one percent

The most common manner of collision for all two-vehicle fatal work zone
crashes was an

angle collision (37%), followed by head-on (33%) and rear-end (17%).

For two-vehicle fatal work zone crashes where one of the vehicles was a
large truck, the most

common manner of collision was angle (30%), followed by rear-end (27%)
and head-on (25%).

######## **Table 17**

**Drivers Involved in Multi-Vehicle Fatal Truck-Related Crashes**

by Driver Type, Violations Charged and Work Zone, 2000

+--------+---------+---+--------+---+---------+----+----------+----+
| **Viol | **Truck | * | *      | * | **Truck | *  | **Other  | *  |
| ations | Dr      | * | *Other | * | D       | *% | Driver** | *% |
| Cha    | ivers** | % | Dr     | % | river** | ** |          | ** |
| rged** |         | * | iver** | * |         |    | **Fatal  |    |
|        | **Fatal | * |        | * | **Fatal |    | Work     |    |
|        | Cr      |   | *      |   | Work    |    | Zone     |    |
|        | ashes** |   | *Fatal |   | Zone    |    | C        |    |
|        |         |   | Cra    |   | Cr      |    | rashes** |    |
|        |         |   | shes** |   | ashes** |    |          |    |
+--------+---------+---+--------+---+---------+----+----------+----+
| Yes    | 476     | 1 | 283    | 6 | 27      | 1  | 14       | 6% |
|        |         | 2 |        | % |         | 2% |          |    |
|        |         | % |        |   |         |    |          |    |
+--------+---------+---+--------+---+---------+----+----------+----+
| No     | 3,610   | 8 | 4,256  | 9 | 203     | 8  | 235      | 9  |
|        |         | 8 |        | 4 |         | 8% |          | 4% |
|        |         | % |        | % |         |    |          |    |
+--------+---------+---+--------+---+---------+----+----------+----+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

Only a minority of drivers involved in multiple-vehicle fatal truck
crashes was charged with violations. The proportion of truck drivers
involved in fatal crashes that were charged with violations was the same
regardless of whether the crash occurred in a work zone. The same was
true for drivers of the other vehicle involved.

######## 

######## 

######## 

######## 

######## **Table 18**

**Drivers Involved in Single-Vehicle Fatal Crashes**

**by Driver Type, Violations Charged and Work Zone, 2000**

+--------+---------+---+---------+---+-----------+----+----------+---+
| **Viol | **Truck | * | **Non-  | * | **Truck   | *  | **Non    | * |
| ations | Drivers | * | Truck** | * | Drivers   | *% | -Truck** | * |
| Cha    | I       | % |         | % | Involved  | ** |          | % |
| rged** | nvolved | * | **      | * | in Fatal  |    | *        | * |
|        | in**    | * | Drivers | * | Truck     |    | *Drivers | * |
|        |         |   | I       |   | Crashes   |    | Involved |   |
|        | **Fatal |   | nvolved |   | in Work   |    | in Fatal |   |
|        | Cr      |   | in      |   | Zones**   |    | Crashes  |   |
|        | ashes** |   | Fatal   |   |           |    | in Work  |   |
|        |         |   | Cr      |   |           |    | Zones**  |   |
|        |         |   | ashes** |   |           |    |          |   |
+--------+---------+---+---------+---+-----------+----+----------+---+
| Yes    | 73      | 9 | 2,776   | 1 | 3         | 9% | 57       | 1 |
|        |         | % |         | 4 |           |    |          | 2 |
|        |         |   |         | % |           |    |          | % |
+--------+---------+---+---------+---+-----------+----+----------+---+
| No     | 724     | 9 | 17,389  | 8 | 31        | 9  | 402      | 8 |
|        |         | 1 |         | 6 |           | 1% |          | 8 |
|        |         | % |         | % |           |    |          | % |
+--------+---------+---+---------+---+-----------+----+----------+---+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

The percentage of large truck drivers charged with a violation in
single-vehicle fatal crashes was less than the percentage for non-truck
drivers charged with a violation in single-vehicle fatal crashes (9% vs.
14%). Similarly, the percentage of large truck drivers charged with a
violation in fatal single vehicle work zone crashes was less than the
percentage of non-truck drivers charged with a violation in
single-vehicle fatal crashes (9% vs. 12%).

![](media/image2.png){width="4.040972222222222in"
height="2.138888888888889in"}

> **[Table 19]{.underline} 2000 Fatalities by Work Zone and Large Truck
> Involvement (FARS)**

+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
|             | **    |             | **FATALITIES  |                 |
|             | TOTAL |             | IN LARGE      |                 |
|             | FA    |             | TRUCK         |                 |
|             | TALIT |             | CRASHES**     |                 |
|             | IES** |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| **STATE**   | **TO  | **WORK      | **TOTAL**     | **WORK ZONE**   |
|             | TAL** | ZONE**      |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| ### Alabama | 995   | 20          | 159           | 3               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Alaska      | 103   | 2           | 4             | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Arizona     | 1,036 | 31          | 105           | 4               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Arkansas    | 652   | 30          | 118           | 7               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| California  | 3,753 | 121         | 376           | 22              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Colorado    | 681   | 11          | 68            | 2               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Connecticut | 342   | 8           | 34            | 5               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Delaware    | 123   | 2           | 20            | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Dist. of    | 49    | 0           | 4             | 0               |
| Columbia    |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Florida     | 2,999 | 83          | 310           | 10              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Georgia     | 1,541 | 95          | 219           | 27              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Hawaii      | 131   | 1           | 1             | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Idaho       | 276   | 8           | 26            | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Illinois    | 1,418 | 52          | 173           | 10              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Indiana     | 875   | 40          | 162           | 15              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Iowa        | 445   | 10          | 90            | 4               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Kansas      | 461   | 16          | 81            | 6               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Kentucky    | 820   | 9           | 101           | 4               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Louisiana   | 937   | 11          | 126           | 5               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Maine       | 169   | 4           | 30            | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Maryland    | 588   | 16          | 63            | 3               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Ma          | 433   | 7           | 51            | 2               |
| ssachusetts |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Michigan    | 1,382 | 11          | 156           | 6               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Minnesota   | 625   | 18          | 87            | 3               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Mississippi | 949   | 1           | 123           | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Missouri    | 1,157 | 16          | 183           | 3               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Montana     | 237   | 3           | 26            | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Nebraska    | 276   | 8           | 56            | 2               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Nevada      | 323   | 11          | 37            | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| New         | 126   | 1           | 10            | 0               |
| Hampshire   |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| New Jersey  | 731   | 33          | 94            | 6               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| New Mexico  | 430   | 9           | 50            | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| New York    | 1,458 | 20          | 156           | 6               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| North       | 1,472 | 44          | 188           | 13              |
| Carolina    |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| North       | 86    | 0           | 10            | 0               |
| Dakota      |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Ohio        | 1,351 | 34          | 182           | 8               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Oklahoma    | 652   | 9           | 112           | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Oregon      | 451   | 6           | 52            | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| P           | 1,520 | 37          | 184           | 9               |
| ennsylvania |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Rhode       | 80    | 1           | 1             | 0               |
| Island      |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| South       | 1,065 | 14          | 89            | 0               |
| Carolina    |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| South       | 173   | 5           | 22            | 2               |
| Dakota      |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Tennessee   | 1,306 | 31          | 162           | 16              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Texas       | 3,769 | 155         | 510           | 42              |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Utah        | 373   | 0           | 39            | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Vermont     | 79    | 2           | 9             | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Virginia    | 930   | 21          | 105           | 7               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Washington  | 632   | 15          | 72            | 4               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| West        | 410   | 4           | 57            | 1               |
| Virginia    |       |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Wisconsin   | 799   | 4           | 97            | 1               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| Wyoming     | 152   | 3           | 21            | 0               |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+
| **Total**   | **41, | **1,093**   | **5,211**     | **264**         |
|             | 821** |             |               |                 |
+-------------+-------+-------------+---------------+-----------------+

Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System

***[SUMMARY]{.underline}*:**

Of the 41,821 fatalities in motor vehicles crashes in 2000, about 3%
occurred in work zone areas.

However, 24% of the fatalities in work zone crashes involved large
trucks, compared to 12% of fatalities in all crashes. Of the
approximately 3.2 million people injured in non-fatal motor vehicle
crashes in 2000, less than 2% of the injuries occurred in work zone
crashes. About 10% of the people injured in work zone crashes were
injured in crashes involving large trucks.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ![](media/image6.wmf){width="0.9888888888888889in"                    |
| height="0.6604166666666667in"}                                        |
|                                                                       |
| Information on work zone crashes involving large trucks is available  |
| from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA),         |
| Analysis Division, 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590,  |
| (202-366-1861), or [www.fmcsa.dot.gov](http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/).    |
| General information about work zone safety may also be obtained from  |
| the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Safety Design Division,    |
| 400 Seventh Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20590, at (202) 366-1795,  |
| or [http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov](http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/).         |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

FMCSA-RI-02-006