WASHINGTON, D.C.

Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths: Costly But Preventable

Motor vehicle crashes and their resulting injuries 

are preventable; state-level changes are especially 

effective for prevention. 

TAKING ACTION CAN SAVE LIVES

In 2018, more than 40 people in Washington, D.C., were 

killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. Washington, D.C.,

can consider the following proven strategies, and the 

enforcement of related policies, to save lives and money:

• Child passenger safety laws that require proper car seat and 

booster seat use until at least age 9 

• A graduated driver licensing (GDL) system that includes:

◦ A mandatory learner’s permit holding period of 12 months

◦ Restrictions against nighttime driving between 10:00 pm 

and 5:00 am (or longer)

$65.7 Million

total cost of traffic crash deaths 

in Washington, D.C., in 2018.

$0.4 Million MEDICAL COSTS

$65.3 Million WORK LOSS COSTS

+

Working together, we can help keep people safe on the road—every day.

www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/statecosts 

COST OF TRAFFIC DEATHS BY TYPE OF ROAD USER

WASHINGTON, D.C.

COST OF TRAFFIC DEATHS BY AGE GROUP

WASHINGTON, D.C.

$37M

Motor Vehicle

Occupants

55%

$16M*

Motorcyclists

23%

$14M*

Pedestrians

21% $1M*

Bicyclists

1%

Source: CDC WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System), 2018

*Cost is based on fewer than 20 deaths and may be unstable.

Children: 0–14* ,**, Teens: 15–19, Young Adults: 20–34, Adults: 35–64, Older Adults: 65+

Source: CDC WISQARS, 2018

*Cost is based on fewer than 20 deaths and may be unstable.

**Estimated cost for children in 2018 was $0.

$2M*

Older Adults

3%

$31M*

Adults

50%

$4M*

Teens

6%

$26M*

Young Adults

41%
The best way to reduce motor vehicle crash costs is to 

prevent crashes. Some effective strategies for preventing 

crashes include:

• automated red-light and speed-camera enforcement

• comprehensive graduated driver licensing systems

• publicized sobriety checkpoints

• mandatory ignition interlocks for all (including 

first-time) offenders convicted of 

alcohol-impaired driving

HOW DOES YOUR STATE COMPARE?

For more information about these and other effective programs, visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety.

CDC’S COST ESTIMATE TOOLS

CDC’s interactive calculator, MV PICCS (Motor Vehicle Prioritizing Interventions and Cost Calculator 

for States), was designed to help decision makers prioritize and select from a suite of 14 effective 

motor vehicle injury prevention interventions. At the state level, MV PICCS calculates the expected 

number and monetized value of injuries prevented and lives saved and the costs of implementation, 

while taking into account available resources. Visit www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/calculator.

CDC’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) is an online, interactive 

system that provides reports of injury-related data. To find the costs of various injury deaths and 

nonfatal injuries, visit www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars.

July 2020

The next best way to reduce costs is to prevent injuries 

when crashes occur. Proven ways to prevent injuries during 

a crash include:

• high-visibility enforcement of seat belt and child 

restraint laws

• primary seat belt laws for all seating positions

• laws that require car seat or booster seat use for 

children until at least age 9

• distribution plus education programs for car seats 

and booster seats

• bicycle helmet laws for children

STATES IN YOUR REGION

Total population in 2018 Traffic crash death costs in 2018

Washington, D.C. 0.7M $66M

Delaware 1.0M $181M

West Virginia 1.8M $417M

Maryland 6.0M $758M

Virginia 8.5M $1.31B

Pennsylvania 12.8M $1.79B

The cost figures presented in the fact sheets are based on information collected by each individual state. There may be differences between 

states’ methods of collection and categorization of these data.

PREVENTION SAVES MONEY