2015 Idaho Bicycle Accident Statistics
According to the Idaho Transportation’s Office of Highway Safety, traffic accidents increased by 8.5 percent from 2014 to 2015. A total of 24,018 motor vehicle crashes were reported during 2015 statewide. The number of fatalities related to motor vehicle crashes increased by 16.1 percent and serious injuries increased by 6.1 percent in 2015.
There were no bicyclists killed in bicycle accidents during 2015; however, seven bicyclists were killed between 2011 and 2015 on Idaho roads. During 2015, there were 353 cyclists involved in traffic accidents that year. Of
Fatal Bus Accidents in Georgia
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety is responsible for maximizing safe practices on state roads and reducing the risk of fatal accidents. As a part of its attempts to strengthen highway safety, the office crafts annual reports presenting crash data and possibilities for improving the situation.
Some of this information is invaluable when it comes to assessing the risk of serious bus crashes that could potentially lead to deaths.
Fatal Bus Accident Statistics for Georgia
Georgia ranks higher than many other states as far as bus accidents are concerned. While the number of fatalities went down in 2015, a surge was experienced once again in 2016.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has the most comprehensive reports pertaining to collisions involving buses and the number of fatalities in each. The following table presents the latest data, including incomplete numbers for 2017.
| 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buses involved | 140 | 152 | 37 |
| Number of Crashes | 139 | 149 | 37 |
| Fatalities | 4 | 19 | 0 |
| Injuries | 199 | 331 | 56 |
Data for prior years paints more or less a similar picture. In 2013, there were 13 fatal crashes that caused the death of 13 people. The number went down in 2014 to seven fatalities caused in seven collisions. The lowest number was accomplished in 2015, after which a surge in bus fatalities occurred once again.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, there were six fatal accidents involving buses in 2010. The figure represents 0.3 percent of all fatal collisions that took place that year. In 2011, Georgia had only two fatal collisions that represented 0.1 percent of all accidents.
How These Numbers Compare to the Georgia Total
GDOT reports make it easier to put things in perspective.
In 2014, Georgia witnessed 1,164 traffic fatalities. The decrease was 2.3 percent on an annual basis and about 6.5 percent in comparison to death on the road numbers from five years ago. The rate in 2014 was actually the lowest one since 1982.
As far as injuries go, there has been a slight increase in 2014 on an annual basis. Over the last five years, the number of people who sustained injuries on the road went up 5.4 percent.
Notable Bus Crash Fatalities in Georgia
Since the FMCSA data for 2017 is incomplete, it doesn’t account for one of the newest accidents that have occurred during the year. A deadly bus crash occurred in June 2017, and a 17-year-old passenger was killed.
Nine other people were injured seriously enough to be hospitalized. The church bus was headed towards the Atlanta airport when the driver attempted to change lanes and collided with another vehicle. The crash led to the loss of control of the bus, and the vehicle rolled over.
Another similar and quite serious accident occurred in October 2016. A tour bus crashed into a tractor-trailer, killing the driver on the spot. The accident occurred in Gilmer County on Georgia Highway 515. There were 43 predominantly elderly passengers on board.
According to investigators, the driver of the tractor-trailer was the one that caused the accident.
Apart from the killed driver, all 43 of the passengers sustained injuries and were taken to a local hospital. None were wounded severely.
the 353 riders involved in an accident, 36 serious injuries, 149 visible injuries, and 101 injuries were reported. The percentage of bicyclists wearing helmets in a crash was 17.8 percent, a 33.6 percent reduction from the previous year. The age group with the highest number of injuries in 2015 was children between the ages of four and 14 years (50 reported) followed by young people between the ages of 15 and 19 years (48 reported).The estimated economic cost of traffic accidents involving bicyclists during 2015 is estimated to be around $41 million.
Bicycle Helmet Laws in Idaho
The Office of Highway Safety estimates that the percentage of cyclists wearing helmets is still very low — roughly 22 percent. The state does not have a mandatory bicycle helmet law at this time.
Idaho’s Efforts to Keep Cyclists and Pedestrians Safe
The Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has several campaigns and initiatives related to pedestrian and bicycle safety. The Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC) is responsible for providing guidance and advice to the ITD for its Bicycle Pedestrian Program. Its role includes helping to prioritize activities, so they benefit the interests of the state’s bicyclists and pedestrians.
The Bicycle & Pedestrian Program includes a focus on education, engineering, enforcement, planning, evaluation, and encouragement. For example, the program seeks to encourage commuting by walking or riding by promoting programs that support such activities. It encourages and support local programs and events, provides information about route planning, and highlights benefits of alternative forms of transportation.
The program’s education efforts include developing and distributing educational materials related to safety. It also seeks to increase awareness of the relevant rules and laws related to bicyclists and pedestrians.
More information about the program, in addition to other resources such as maps, guides, studies, and safety information can be found on the program’s website.