North Dakota Crash Statistics
Roadway safety is of the utmost priority to the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). In 2018, the state launched the “Vision Zero” campaign, a strategy aimed at preventing motor vehicle fatalities. Since its inception, the overall number of annual crashes has drastically decreased; however, fatalities remain fairly consistent.
In an effort to pioneer this initiative, the state encourages personal responsibility when behind the wheel, highlighting that most crashes are preventable. In terms of the most recently released data, most crashes did fall into this distinction.
Lane Departure Crashes
A lane departure accident is a type of crash that often occurs when a driver unintentionally drifts from his or her lane. They can happen due to driver inattention, drowsiness, or distraction. 45 fatalities on North Dakota roads in 2021 resulted from lane departures.
Alcohol-Involved Crashes
Crashes caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol accounted for about 31% of fatalities in 2021. Although this represented a decrease of about 20.5% from the previous year, these crashes are 100% preventable.
Speed-Related Crashes
Speeding is an issue nationwide, and studies show that rates of speeding-related crashes severely increased during 2020. For North Dakota, 27 fatalities resulted from speeding incidents in 2021, which was a 12.5% decrease from the year prior. However, speed was the top contributing factor to accidents, according to the NDDOT crash dashboard.
Other Crash Factors
According to the crash dashboard, some of the other most common crash factors were:
- Reckless Driving
- Failure to Yield
- Overcorrection
- Driving Too Fast for the Conditions
Regardless of the road conditions, drivers should take care to respect the roads and keep safety a priority. We encourage all motorists to play an active role in the “Vision Zero” campaign and keep our roads safe for all.
Car Accident? Call Pringle & Herigstad, P.C.
Since 1909, the team at Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. has been helping people throughout North Dakota seek justice for motor vehicle accidents. We are dedicated to helping injured individuals obtain the compensation they deserve for life-altering injuries and helping them get their lives back on track. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, we can help. Call (855) 245-5100 to schedule a free consultation.
