2000 Work Zone Traffic 
Crash Facts

 

Prepared by:
Analysis Division
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
Washington, D.C.
March 2002


 




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

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
						
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 Occupant
584
600
658
737
916
699
84%
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
 
   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
    
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 Occupant

36,000

34,000

38,000

49,000

50,000

41,000

98%

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:  Estimates rounded to nearest thousand

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


Figure 3

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

Time of Day

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal 
Work Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 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 Week

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%

Weekend (Sat & Sun) 
12,912
35%
299
31%
677
15%
29
13%

Weekdays (Mon-Fri)
24,492
65%
667
69%
3,842
85%
187
87%

Unknown
5
*
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%

Total

37,409

100%

966

100%
4,519

100%

216

100%
  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

Season
All
 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck Work 
Zone Crashes


%

Winter
8,511
23%
155
16%
1,065
24%
28
13%

Spring
9,037
24%
264
27%
1,062
23%
65
30%

Summer
10,186
27%
288
30%
1,216
27%
64
30%

Fall
9,675
26%
259
27%
1,176
26%
59
27%

Total

37,409

100%
966

100%
4,519

100%
216

100%
  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 Class

 Fatal 
Crash
es


%
 Fatal 
Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal 
Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 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  Rural
20,719
55%
506
53%
2,873
64%
131

60%
Urban-Interstate
2,115
6%
109
11%
426
9%
33

15%

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

19%
Subtotal  Urban
14,431
39%
412
42%
1,403
31%
73

34%

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, 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

Speed Limit

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal 
Work Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck Work
 Zone Crashes


%

1-50 mph
16,875
45%
383
40%
1,313
29%
63
29%

55-75 mph
19,566
52%
568
59%
3,149
70%
150
70%

Unknown
968
3%
15
1%
57
1%
3
1%

Total

37,409

100%
966

100%
4,519

100%
216

100%
  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


Traffic Flow

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
Fatal
 Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck Work 
Zone Crashes


%

Not Divided

24,021

64%
471

49%

2,456

54%

86

40%
Median-No 
Barrier

9,248

25%
298

31%

1,439

32%

76

35%
Median 
w/Barrier

3,057

8%
172

18%

537

12%

51

24%

Unknown

1,083

3%
25

2%

87

2%

3

1%

Total

37,409

100%
966

100%
4,519

100%
216

100%
 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
Fatal Crashes by Roadway Alignment and Work Zone, 2000

Roadway 
Alignment

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal 
Work Zone 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck
 Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck Work 
Zone Crashes


%

Straight

27,717

74%

786

81%

3,689

82%

189

88%

Curve

9,291

25%

174

18%

817

18%

25

12%

Unknown

401

1%

6

1%

13
*

2
*

Total
37,409

100%

966

100%

4,519

100%
216

100%
 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
Fatal Crashes by Roadway Profile and Work Zone, 2000

Roadway 
Profile

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal 
Work Zone 
Crashes


%
Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 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 to 
Roadway

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck 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
Number of
Vehicles 
Involved

 Fatal 
Crashes


%

 Fatal Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%

 Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal Large 
Truck Work 
Zone Crashes


%

One

21,052

56%

495

51%

802

18%

34

16%

Two

13,766

37%

338

35%

2,950

65%

114

53%

More than 2

2,591

7%

133

14%

767

17%

68

31%

Total

37,409

100%

966

100%

4,519

100%

216

100%
  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 Event
Collision With:
 
Fatal 
Crashes


%
Fatal Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
Fatal Large 
Truck Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%

Motor Vehicle in Transport
15,435
41%
427
44%
3,515
78%
162
75%

Fixed Object
11,302
30%
233
24%
331
8%
17
8%

Pedestrian
4,441
12%
131
14%
285
6%
19
9%

Non-Collision
4,423
12%
85
9%
236
5%
7
3%

Not Fixed Object
1,774
5%
90
9%
150
3%
11
5%

Unknown
34
*
0
0%
2
*
0
0%

Total

37,409

100%

966

100%

4,519

100%
216

100%
  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

 Fatal 
Crashes


%
Fatal 
Work 
Zone 
Crashes


%
Fatal Large 
Truck 
Crashes


%
 Fatal 
Large 
Truck 
Work Zone 
Crashes


%

Rear-end
1,388
10%
56
17%
546
19%
31
27%

Head-on
4,558
33%
112
33%
868
29%
28
25%

Angle
6,597
48%
124
37%
1,256
43%
34
30%
Side-Swipe: Same direction
269
2%
10
3%
65
2%
5
4%
Side-Swipe:
Opposition direction
106
1%
1
*
55
2%
1
1%

Not Applicable/Unknown
848
6%
              
35
10%
160
5%
15
13%

Total

13,766

100%

338

100%

2,950

100%

114

100%
  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

Violations 
Charged

Truck Drivers
Fatal Crashes

%

Other Driver
Fatal Crashes

%
Truck Driver 
Fatal Work 
Zone Crashes

%
Other Driver
Fatal Work Zone 
Crashes

%

Yes
476
12%
283
6%
27
12%
14
6%

No    
3,610
88%
4,256
94%
203
88%
235
     94%
 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

Violations 
Charged
Truck Drivers 
Involved in
Fatal Crashes


%
Non-Truck 
Drivers 
Involved in 
Fatal Crashes


%
Truck Drivers 
Involved in Fatal 
Truck Crashes 
in Work Zones


%
Non-Truck 
Drivers 
Involved in 
Fatal Crashes 
in Work Zones


%

Yes
73
9%
2,776
14%
3
9%
57
12%

No    
724
91%
17,389
86%
31
91%
402
88%
  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%).







 


Table 19           2000 Fatalities by Work Zone and Large Truck Involvement (FARS)

TOTAL FATALITIES
FATALITIES IN LARGE TRUCK 
CRASHES
STATE
TOTAL
WORK ZONE
TOTAL
WORK 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 Columbia
    49
0
4
0
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
Massachusetts
  433
7
51
2
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 Hampshire
   126
1
10
0
New Jersey
  731
33
94
6
New Mexico
 430
9
50
0
New York
1,458
20
156
6
North Carolina
1,472
44
188
13
North Dakota
     86
0
10
0
Ohio
1,351
34
182
8
Oklahoma
   652
9
112
1
Oregon
  451
6
52
1
Pennsylvania
1,520
37
184
9
Rhode Island
     80
1
1
0
South Carolina
1,065
14
89
0
South Dakota
   173
5
22
2
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 Virginia
   410
4
57
1
Wisconsin
   799
4
97
1
Wyoming
   152
3
  21
0
Total
41,821
1,093
5,211 
264
Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System






SUMMARY:

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.  




















   
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.   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.





FMCSA-RI-02-006


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