Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes on Indian Reservations 1975-2002

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Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes on Indian Reservations 1975-2002

K. Poindexter

The objective of this study by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), was to examine the characteristics of fatal motor vehicle crashes that occurred on federal lands, specifically, those lands that have been designated as Indian reservations. Using data from the 1975 - 2002 NCSAs Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), characteristics of these crashes were examined to better understand the circumstances that are involved in these particular types of crashes. Five thousand nine hundred and sixty-two fatal motor vehicle crashes occurred on roads under the jurisdiction of Indian reservations between 1975 and 2002, an average of 213 fatal crashes per year. In 2002, the number of crashes on reservations reached a new high of 276, representing a 4.5% increase over the previous recorded high of 264 crashes in 1996 and a 52.5% increase over the 181 crashes in 1975. Over the years, these crashes have resulted in the loss of 7,093 lives of which 3,322 were drivers 2,717 were passengers and 1,001 were pedestrians. This report was written to provide additional information relative to these crashes.