For Immediate Release
July 20, 1998

TRAFFIC FATALITIES & SEAT BELTS: NEW STUDY TO INVESTIGATE HIGHER FATALITY RATE IN SOUTHEAST

The southeastern United States consistently has the nation's highest rate of fatal traffic crashes. These southeastern states — Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee — also have a significantly higher proportion of fatal crashes in which drivers were not wearing, or not properly wearing, their seat belts, according to a preliminary study done by the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Click on graphic to see larger, 55k version.

"The Southeast systematically ranks poorly with respect to fatal crashes compared to the remainder of the U.S. — we need to identify the causal factors and implement effective countermeasures," said lead researcher Dr. Simon Washington, an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Now, with preliminary results in hand, that is exactly what Washington, assistant civil engineering professor Dr. Karen Dixon and transportation officials from each southeastern state are doing. They have just begun a two-year study to determine the causes for this disturbing trend. State safety officials will use this information to formulate solutions. Washington will coordinate the research effort, which will include university researchers from each of the southeastern states.

The entire research team will investigate the top five potential contributing factors to fatal crash occurrence. They will decide upon the top five this summer based on each state's informal top 10 list.

"Among some of the factors likely to be studied are: alcohol and drug related crashes; occupant restraint use; speeding and police enforcement; fixed objects crashes; intersection-related crashes; and rural versus urban crashes," Washington said. "Studies of these and other factors are likely to reveal new and detailed insight into the relative importance of these factors on fatal crash occurrence.

"This large regional study is unusual because each state will have researchers studying and analyzing crash factors in their states, while Georgia Tech provides analysis coordination and regional analysis support," Washington said. "Also, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are working together to provide oversight of the research effort. As a result of the inter-state cooperation of researchers and safety officials, we are hopeful that the results are likely to be used to implement safety policies and programs."

Federal transportation officials in the southeastern regional office in Atlanta first brought the fatal crash record to the attention of Washington and his graduate students as part of a class research project last year. Frank Julian of FHWA asked Washington to analyze crash data collected in the federally maintained Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Researchers reviewed 1995 and 1996 data and found similar trends to those in past years — the southeastern United States continues to rank among the highest with respect to number of fatal crashes and fatal crash rates (number of crashes divided by miles of vehicular travel).

In reviewing the 1995 data, Washington found that the Southeast had about 2,300 more fatal crashes — that is a crash that involved at least one fatality — on rural highways than would have occurred elsewhere in the nation. This statistical estimate accounted for the Southeast having more rural highways and drivers spending more time on them.

In addition to the type of roadway related to fatal crashes, the study also examined other factors, including seat belt use among drivers. In 1995, there were about 1,400 more crashes than expected in which drivers were not wearing, or not properly wearing, seat belts. And an intra-region comparison found that Mississippi and Tennessee have significantly higher proportions of fatal crashes in which drivers are not wearing seat belts. Meanwhile, North Carolina and Florida have fewer such crashes than other states in the region.

"There is a systematic difference between the Southeast and other regions with respect to the number of fatal crashes where drivers were not wearing seat belts," Washington said.

Previous studies have shown that seatbelt use can reduce fatal crashes by 45 to 50 percent. In a separate federally funded study, Washington is studying this trend, again to determine the reasons why motorists do not wear seat belts.

Washington's preliminary study also analyzed FARS data related to speed and fatal crashes, but the results were inconclusive. The estimated speed at the time of crash was vastly under-reported in the FARS data — often because it is hard to obtain at the scene and thus police omit it from their reports, Washington said. The researchers considered speed limit, but found it, too, to be inconclusive.

"We want to address the issue of speed in the follow-up study," Washington said. "But it is difficult to assess.... We will most likely have to look at speed distributions as measured on different facilities in the region. This information is typically derived from either temporary or permanent traffic count stations. However, speed distributions do not provide direct evidence as to speed as a problem in fatal crashes simply because there are so many other factors involved."

Another fatal crash factor considered by researchers in the preliminary study was driver age versus seat belt use. The Southeast faired poorly in this category, but followed the disturbing national trend that a disproportionate number of young drivers (ages 16 to 25) are involved in fatal crashes, both with and without wearing seat belts.

"Driver age as a factor in fatal crashes is an issue worthy of further study in its own right," Washington said. "It is an area with potential for improvement." He noted that some European countries have extensive graduated licensing programs. Young people can drive only during daytime hours for an initial period during which they prove their driving ability. Then if they have no traffic violations or crashes, they can obtain the next level of license, allowing them to drive at night.

These and other factors contributing to fatal crashes remain to be investigated further in the follow-up study, Washington said. "We expect to get into great detail in this next study.... Then state officials can develop recommendations that will result in greater improvement in the safety record for the Southeast and possibly the nation."

RESEARCH NEWS & PUBLICATIONS OFFICE
Georgia Institute of Technology
75 Fifth Street, N.W., Suite 100
Atlanta, Georgia 30308 USA

MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACTS:
John Toon (404-894-6986);
Email: john.toon@edi.gatech.edu; FAX: (404-894-4545) or
Jane Sanders (404-894-2214);
E-mail: jane.sanders@edi.gatech.edu.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Dr. Simon Washington, Georgia Tech (404-894-6476); E-mail: simon.washington@ce.gatech.edu
Dr. Karen Dixon, Georgia Tech (404-894-5830); E-mail: karen.dixon@ce.gatech.edu
Frank Julian, FHWA (404-562-3685); E-mail: fjulian@ga.fhwa.dot.gov

WRITER: Jane Sanders