People Table 33. Drivers of Passenger Vehicles in Fatal Crashes by Driver-Related Factors and Violations Recorded, 2017-2019
| Driver-Related Factors | 2017: Number | 2017: Percent | 2018: Number | 2018: Percent | 2019: Number | 2019: Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding of Any Kind | 6,818 | 16.6% | 6,621 | 16.5% | 6,496 | 16.6% |
| Impairment (Fatigue, Alcohol, Illness, etc.) | 6,653 | 16.2% | 6,230 | 15.5% | 5,898 | 15.1% |
| Failure to Yield Right of Way | 3,322 | 8.1% | 3,196 | 7.9% | 3,272 | 8.4% |
| Improper Lane Usageb | 3,403 | 8.3% | 3,246 | 8.1% | 2,920 | 7.5% |
| Careless Driving | 2,419 | 5.9% | 2,259 | 5.6% | 2,585 | 6.6% |
| Distraction/inattention (Cell Phone, Lost in Thought, Eating, etc.) | 2,870 | 7.0% | 2,215 | 5.5% | 2,458 | 6.3% |
| Failure to Obey Actual Traffic Sign,Traffic Control Devices or Traffic Officers; Failure to Obey Safety Zone Traffic Laws |
1,794 | 4.4% | 1,693 | 4.2% | 1,717 | 4.4% |
| Operating the Vehicle in an Erratic, Reckless, Careless, or Negligent Manner or Operating at Erratic or Suddenly Changing Speeds |
1,642 | 4.0% | 1,568 | 3.9% | 1,462 | 3.7% |
| Overcorrecting | 1,700 | 4.1% | 1,494 | 3.7% | 1,407 | 3.6% |
| Vision Obscured (by Weather, Roadway Design, Vehicles, etc.) | 1,259 | 3.1% | 1,237 | 3.1% | 1,213 | 3.1% |
| Driving on Wrong Side of Road (Intentional or Unintentional) | 1,007 | 2.5% | 1,005 | 2.5% | 970 | 2.5% |
| Non-Traffic Violation Charged—Manslaughter or Homicide or Other Assault | 695 | 1.7% | 608 | 1.5% | 613 | 1.6% |
| Improper or Erratic Lane Changing | 835 | 2.0% | 552 | 1.4% | 541 | 1.4% |
| Ice, Water, Snow, Slush, Sand, Dirt, Oil, Wet Leaves on Road | 474 | 1.2% | 565 | 1.4% | 521 | 1.3% |
| Following Improperly | 411 | 1.0% | 389 | 1.0% | 425 | 1.1% |
| Aggressive Driving / Road Rage | 317 | 0.8% | 322 | 0.8% | 322 | 0.8% |
| Making Improper Turn | 416 | 1.0% | 523 | 1.3% | 322 | 0.8% |
| Passing with Insufficient Distance or Inadequate Visibility or Failing to Yield to Overtaking Vehicle |
228 | 0.6% | 206 | 0.5% | 263 | 0.7% |
| Driver has a Driving Record or Driver’s License from More than One State | 284 | 0.7% | 301 | 0.7% | 233 | 0.6% |
| Police Pursuing this Driver or Police Officer in Pursuit | 218 | 0.5% | 209 | 0.5% | 228 | 0.6% |
| Looked But Did Not Seea | — | — | 303 | 0.8% | 216 | 0.6% |
| Driver Has Not Complied With Physical or Other Imposed Restrictions | 177 | 0.4% | 154 | 0.4% | 176 | 0.4% |
| Driving Wrong Way on One-Way Trafficway | 97 | 0.2% | 124 | 0.3% | 145 | 0.4% |
| Stopping in Roadway (Vehicle Not Abandoned) | 132 | 0.3% | 146 | 0.4% | 143 | 0.4% |
| Driver Has Not Complied with Learners Permit or Intermediate Driver License Restrictions (GDL Restrictions) |
133 | 0.3% | 101 | 0.3% | 127 | 0.3% |
| Passing Where Prohibited by Posted Signs, Pavement Markings, Hill, or Curve, or School Bus Displaying Warning Not to Pass |
167 | 0.4% | 155 | 0.4% | 98 | 0.3% |
| Alcohol and/or Drug Test Refused | 80 | 0.2% | 87 | 0.2% | 94 | 0.2% |
| Operator Inexperience | 100 | 0.2% | 88 | 0.2% | 90 | 0.2% |
| Vehicle in Road | 72 | 0.2% | 70 | 0.2% | 67 | 0.2% |
| Tire Blowout or Flat | 100 | 0.2% | 80 | 0.2% | 57 | 0.1% |
| Starting or Backing Improperly | 47 | 0.1% | 50 | 0.1% | 51 | 0.1% |
| Passing on Right Side | 39 | 0.1% | 48 | 0.1% | 50 | 0.1% |
| Phantom Vehicle | 56 | 0.1% | 70 | 0.2% | 50 | 0.1% |
| Police or Law Enforcement Officer | 56 | 0.1% | 50 | 0.1% | 49 | 0.1% |
| Slippery or Loose Surface | 25 | 0.1% | 44 | 0.1% | 49 | 0.1% |
| At Least One Driver-Related Factor Recorded | 22,236 | 54.2% | 21,535 | 53.5% | 20,923 | 53.4% |
| No Driver-Related Factors Recorded | 18,775 | 45.8% | 18,687 | 46.5% | 18,250 | 46.6% |
| Totalc | 41,011 | 100.0% | 40,222 | 100.0% | 39,173 | 100.0% |
| At Least One Moving Violation Recorded | 4,551 | 11.1% | 4,623 | 11.5% | 4,713 | 12.0% |
| No Moving Violations Recorded | 36,460 | 88.9% | 35,599 | 88.5% | 34,460 | 88.0% |
| Totalc | 41,011 | 100.0% | 40,222 | 100.0% | 39,173 | 100.0% |
| — Not applicable. | ||||||
| a"Looked But Did Not See" was removed from the list of driver distraction-related factors and listed as a driver-related factor for the first time in 2018. | ||||||
| b"Improper Lane Usage" was formerly known as "Failure to Keep in Proper Lane." | ||||||
| cThe sums of numbers and percentages may be greater than the totals shown, because more than one factor may be present for a single driver. | ||||||
| Note: A passenger vehicle is defined here as a car or light truck (including pickups, vans, and sport utility vehicles). | ||||||
| Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). | ||||||
Last updated: Tuesday, January 31, 2023