Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS)

 

crash
Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers.		 crash
Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers.		 crash
Photo courtesy of the Alaska State Troopers.

 

Since 1975, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has operated and maintained the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). FARS is a national data collection system that contains information on all known motor vehicle traffic crashes in which there was at least one fatality. For the purposes of the FARS program, a reportable fatality is a death that occurs within 30 days (or more precisely, 720 hours) of the motor vehicle traffic crash and is a direct result of the crash. Initial identification of fatalities under FARS often comes from police crash reports but may come from any available source. Detailed information on the circumstances of the crash and persons and vehicles involved are obtained from a wide variety of sources including police crash reports, driver licensing files, vehicle registration files, state highway department data, emergency medical services records, medical examiner/coroners reports, toxicology reports, and death certificates.

FARS is an important resource for NHTSA, the states, and the traffic safety community. The FARS data, a census of all fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in the U.S., helps NHTSA and others understand and describe the national and state traffic safety environment. FARS data are used to identify problem areas, evaluate safety countermeasures, and to facilitate the development of traffic safety programs at the national, state, and local levels. FARS data provide a basis for Agency decisions in traffic safety, crashworthiness research, and rulemaking. In addition, the consistency of definitions for data in FARS allows an individual state or geographical area to assess its traffic safety situation in relation to the national experience and that of other states.

The FARS data are gathered, interpreted, coded and entered into the National Database in each state by FARS Analysts. The Analysts are employees of state government agencies under agreement with NHTSA for the support of the FARS program. The number of FARS Analysts differ by state according to population and number of fatalities. Alaska has one FARS Analyst.

In 2010 Alaska experienced 56 fatalities, in 52 fatal crashes. These figures show a 12.5% decrease in fatalities and a 11.9% decrease in fatal crashes from 2009. The number of alcohol-related fatal crashes in 2010 decreased by 22.7% from 2009. Alcohol-related figures include non-occupant persons (e.g. pedestrians, pedalcyclists, etc.) in addition to drivers and passengers of motor vehicles. 2011 and 2012 data are preliminary and subject to change.

 

 

Alaska Fatal Statistics

Year Fatalities Fatal Crashes Alcohol-Related Fatal Crashes % Alcohol Related Fatal Crashes
1994 85 70 38 54%
1995 87 75 41 55%
1996 81 72 37 51%
1997 77 68 36 53%
1998 70 63 29 46%
1999 79 73 39 53%
2000 106 93 45 48%
2001 89 80 42 53%
2002 89 78 34 44%
2003 98 87 34 39%
2004 101 96 30 31%
2005 73 66 32 48%
2006 74 71 23 32%
2007 82 75 31 41%
2008 62 55 22 40%
2009 64 59 22 37%
2010 56* 52* 17* 33%*
2011 72* 63* 21* 33%*
2012 11* 9* 2* 22%*
*Numbers are preliminary and subject to change
Fatalities Not Wearing Seatbelts
1994 36
1995 46
1996 34
1997 36
1998 29
1999 33
2000 45
2001 35
2002 24
2003 30
2004 34
2005 22
2006 17
2007 28
2008 23
2009 12
2010 13*
2011 26*
2012 3*
*Numbers are preliminary and subject to change

 

 

Alaska Traffic Fatalities
Updated 4/23/2012
Month 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011* 2012*
Total Non-Fatal Injury
Crashes** 		3,345 3,071 3,238 3,779 TBD TBD TBD
Total Non-Fatal
Injuries** 		5,021 4,389 4,642 5,330 TBD TBD TBD
January 7 7 5 2 5 8 4
February 5 4 1 5 0 1 0
March 4 4 2 1 3 5 3
April 3 5 5 4 3 5 4
May 8 3 2 7 6 9  
June 7 11 7 5 6 3  
July 9 18 11 9 7 10  
August 4 3 7 8 3 13  
September 7 4 4 6 8 3  
October 9 7 7 5 4 4  
November 2 9 5 5 6 5  
December 9 7 6 7 5 6  
TOTAL FATALITIES 74 82 62 64 56 72* 11*
Alcohol Related Fatalities (includes non-drivers):
Percentage 31% 43% 44% 41% 34% 32%* 27%*
Number 23 35 27 26 19 23* 3*
Alaska's Observational Seat belt use*** 83.2% 82.4% 84.9% 86.1% 86.8% 89.3% TBD
Unbelted Fatalities (fatalities in seatbelt equipped vehicles only):
Percentage 37% 53% 54% 30% 35% 55%* 30%*
Number 17 28 23 12 13 26* 3*
* Numbers are preliminary and subject to change
** State of Alaska, Department of Transportation and Public Facilities' Highway Analysis System (HAS)
*** National Occupant Protection Use Survey - Alaska Injury Prevention Center
All of the above fatality numbers are compiled by the Alaska Highway Safety Office,
Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities

Seat Belts Save Lives...

 

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Contact Information — Alaska FARS

Joanna S. Reed
Research Analyst III / Alaska FARS Analyst
email iconjoanna.reed@alaska.gov
phone icon907-465-8532
fax: 907-465-4030