What does this measure?

The number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle crashes, expressed as a rate per 10,000 residents. Fatalities include deaths of a motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian which occur within thirty days following injury in a motor vehicle accident.

Why is this important?

Fatal crashes are personal and community tragedies, and also have detrimental impacts in terms of associated health care, emergency and legal service costs. In 2002, the Federal Highway Administration estimated the value of averting a fatality at $3 million. More recently, the US Department of Transportation estimated the cost of a fatality at $5.8 million. According to the NYS Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, most fatal motor vehicle crashes are caused by speeding and/or alcohol. This means that to some extent communities can work to prevent fatalities through education and enforcement.

How is our region performing?

Regionally, car crashes caused 0.7 deaths per 10,000 residents in 2008, amounting to 82 fatalities, slightly higher than the state rate of 0.6. Since 2000, the state's rate has been roughly half the nation's typical rate of 1.5 crash fatalities per 10,000 residents, with our region consistently fallen in between. Monroe County's crash fatality rate generally mirrors the state's rate and is consistently lower than the surrounding counties by more than double.

Notes about the data

Rates may show larger fluctuation as a result of small populations.