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A past research effort initiated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) found that the combined workload of guidance (i.e., selection of the vehicle path) and control (i.e., physical operation of the vehicle) in the vicinity of interchanges creates a particularly challenging environment for motorists (Katz et al. 2018). At interchange ramp locations, drivers use cues […]
This report is an introduction to behavioral traffic safety countermeasures for rural stakeholders who want to build capacity, form partnerships, and address problems in their communities, based on NHTSA’s 11th edition of Countermeasures That Work. This new report features select speed, alcohol-impaired driving, and occupant protection countermeasures relevant to rural communities. It is not intended […]
Passenger vehicles are defined as motor vehicles with gross vehicle weight ratings of 10,000 pounds or less and include passenger cars and light trucks (SUVs, pickups, vans, and other light trucks). In 2022 there were 25,420 passenger vehicle occupants who died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, a 4-percent decrease from 26,465 in 2021. An estimated […]
A statistical projection of traffic fatalities for the first quarter of 2024 shows an estimated 8,650 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, a decrease of about 3.2 percent as compared to 8,935 fatalities projected to have occurred in 2023, as shown in Table 1. The first quarter of 2024 represents the eighth consecutive quarterly […]
In 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 236, restricted speed is defined as a speed that permits stopping within one-half the range of vision, but does not exceed 20 mph. While previous studies have focused extensively on the safety risks associated with high-frequency, high-consequence accidents, comparatively little prior work has been undertaken to evaluate railroad […]
Traffic management systems (TMSs) and Transportation Management Centers are critical resources that offer agencies the potential to improve the safety and mobility of travel on the surface transportation system. TMSs also assist agencies fulfilling the ever-increasing transportation needs of travelers (e.g., travel times), service providers (e.g., transit, emergency services), other agencies, and the public (e.g., […]
In 2014 NHTSA specified an area behind the vehicle that must be displayed to the driver while backing, which applied to new passenger vehicles beginning with model year 2018. Most manufacturers responded by adding rearview video systems (RVSs) to their vehicles. Research has shown that using RVSs can reduce crash risk (Hurwitz et al., 2010); […]
This fact sheet contains information on fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes based on data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) and non-fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes from the Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS). Results from FARS, such as fatal crashes and fatalities, are actual counts, while results from CRSS, such as non-fatal crashes and […]
This fact sheet reports data on traffic fatalities by race and ethnicity, which might help develop countermeasures for those at risk. The term “race-ethnicity” is used to refer to the combined classification of race and ethnicity data. It also uses race-ethnicity categories based on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 1997 Guidelines on Race […]
This report was prepared in accordance with Section 25025 (Drug-Impaired Driving Data Collection) of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA), Pub. L. 117-58. The report summarizes what is known about the collection of drug-impaired driving data and its reporting to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). The report describes the FARS data collection process […]