Department of Transportation Releases Traffic Accident Statistics

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has released a final report on traffic accidents for 2013, showing that traffic accidents and fatalities increased that year. Fortunately, the preliminary statistics for 2014 already show a decline in those fatalities.

The report, “2013 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics,” detailed an important series of facts:

  • There were 285,477 Illinois traffic collisions in 2013.
  • In Chicago, there were 79,384 car crashes.
  • Of all these crashes, 21.4 percent involved an injury.
  • Less than 1 percent involved a fatality.
  • During 2013, there were 991 fatalities in 895 fatal crashes.
  • Of the people who died, 152 were motorcyclists, 125 were pedestrians and 30 were bicyclists.
  • The report states that excessive speed was involved in 35 percent of the fatal crashes.
  • Deer were involved in 5.4 percent of all crashes.

Although 2013 had the highest number of fatalities since 2008, the year did maintain a trend of traffic deaths below 1,000 per year in the state. This trend stands in stark contrast to the 1990s through the mid-2000s, when annual traffic fatalities ranged from 1,300 to more than 1,500.

According to the report, more crashes happen on weekdays. Each weekday in 2013 saw more than 40,000 accidents, while Saturday and Sunday saw 38,796 crashes and 33,403 crashes, respectively. Friday had the most accidents, with 47,527.

The greatest number of accidents took place during the afternoon and evening. The time period from 4 p.m. to 7:59 p.m. saw 77,088 accidents. There were 71,547 accidents in the time period from 12 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.

Paul Greenberg is a Chicago car accident lawyer with Briskman Briskman & Greenberg. To learn more call 1.877.595.4878 or visit http://www.briskmanandbriskman.com/.

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