Analysis of fatal crashes due to signal and stop sign violations

Abstract

The 1999 and 2000 Fatality Analysis Reporting System databases were analyzed to gain a better understanding of fatal crashes involving light vehicles that violated traffic signals or stop signs. A total of 9,951 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes at traffic signals in 1999 and 2000 - 20% of these vehicles failed to obey the signal and 13% failed to yield the right-of-way. On the other hand, 13,627 vehicles were involved in fatal crashes at stop signs - 21% failed to obey the sign and 23% failed to yield the right-of-way. Fatal crashes involving light vehicles (passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and pickup trucks) that violated the traffic signal or the stop sign were separated into single vehicle, two-vehicle, and multi-vehicle crash categories. For each crash category, this report identified the crash scenarios, described the crash contributing factors, and characterized the infrastructure where these fatal crashes happened in 1999 and 2000. No major difference was found between the crash categories regarding the infrastructure where these fatal crashes occurred. Single vehicle crashes were almost three times as likely to involve alcohol than two-vehicle or multi-vehicle crashes. Furthermore, single vehicle crashes had the highest rate of speeding and inattention. Two-vehicle crashes had the second highest involvement rate of inattention and multi-vehicle had the second highest rate of speeding.