Driving on Alaska’s roads is not always a simple task. Our state’s climate provides tricky road conditions at various times of the year.
Certain car accident causes occur more frequently than others, and some are more likely to result in fatalities. Read on to learn which car accident causes are more prevalent and likely to inflict serious injuries.
Speeding-Related Crashes
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2016, a total of 84 people were killed in the state as a result of car accidents. Of those 84 people, 36 of them were killed due to a speeding-related car accident. That means nearly 43% of all traffic fatalities in the state in 2016 were caused by one or more drivers speeding.
These speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred most often on Saturdays (nine speeding-related deaths) and during the months of June (eight speeding-related deaths), August (six speeding-related deaths), and October (five speeding-related deaths).
In addition, speeding-related fatalities occurred most often during the evening and early morning hours, typically between 8:00-9:00 pm and 11:00 pm-2:00 am.
According to the NHTSA, from 2011 to 2015, certain vehicles were more likely to be involved in speed-related fatal accidents than others. At 27.5%, pickup trucks were the most likely to be involved in fatal accidents that were speed-related. At 25.5%, cars were next in line, followed by SUVs at 19.6%, motorcycles and ATV/snowmobiles tied at 11%, and vans tied with commercial vehicles at 2%.
As you can see from the graph below, males were involved in far more speeding-related fatal accidents than females. Age group also plays a high factor in traffic fatalities, with males aged 25-34 having been involved in twice the number of speeding-related fatalities as the next highest age group, 21-24.
The data shows that speeding is the most deadly cause of car accidents in the state of Alaska.
Alcohol-Impaired Crashes
The next most common cause of car accidents is driver intoxication. In 2018, there were a total of 80 traffic fatalities, and 29 of those deaths were the result of alcohol-impaired driving. That means alcohol-impaired driving accounted for 36.25% of all traffic fatalities that year.
As seen in the graph above, from 2011 to 2015, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities occurred most often during the nighttime hours, from 9:00 pm to 3:00 am.
Additionally, from 2011 to 2015, the above graph shows that fatal crashes involving alcohol impairment were most prevalent in Anchorage, at 21 deaths. The next region that experienced high fatality rates as a result of alcohol-impaired driving was Matanuska-Susitna, with a total of 13 deaths.
Preventable Deaths
Perhaps what is most concerning about these statistics is that both speeding and alcohol-impaired driving are preventable causes of car accidents. Next time you’re driving on Alaskan roads, remember these statistics so that you don’t become one of them.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident related to speeding, alcohol-impairment, or any other reason, the attorneys at Farnsworth & Vance may be able to help you receive compensation for your losses. You shouldn’t have to suffer due to someone else’s negligence, and the accomplished attorneys at Farnsworth & Vance work hard to recover clients’ damages.
Call Farnsworth & Vance today at (907) 290-2576 or contact us online to discover your legal options.