District Department of Transportation

2009 Traffic Safety Fact

District of Columbia Motor-Vehicle Deaths were down by 15% in 2009.

  • 2009 Total Motor-vehicle deaths in the District were 33.
  • 15% decrease from 2008
  • 39% decrease from 2007
  • 20% decrease from 2006

The breakdown of the Traffic Fatalities and percent changes are:

2008 2009 Percent changes

Driver 9 6 -33%

Passenger 7 6 -14%

Pedestrian 14 16 14%

Motorcycle 8 5 -38%

Bicycle 1 0 -100%

Total 39 33 -15%

Special Note

Total of 6 Motor vehicle driver deaths are the lowest ever.

Total of 16 Pedestrian fatalities, is the highest group in 2009

Age Factor

The youngest fatality was a 14 years old Pedestrian

The oldest person was a 95 years old Pedestrian

Age group 20-29 has most traffic fatalities, total of 13 for each group

Gender Factor

10 Female

23 Male

Contributing Factors

Speed is the leading cause, total of 10 traffic fatalities

Pedestrian Violation, total of 7

Red Light Running, total of 3 traffic fatalities

Traffic Fatalities by Type (2000 – 2009)
2000 / 2001 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2005 / 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009
Driver / 17 / 33 / 25 / 34 / 16 / 17 / 13 / 13 / 9 / 6
Passenger / 5 / 17 / 9 / 9 / 5 / 7 / 10 / 10 / 7 / 6
Pedestrian / 19 / 13 / 8 / 18 / 10 / 16 / 17 / 25 / 14 / 16
Motorcycle / 7 / 5 / 7 / 7 / 10 / 6 / 1 / 4 / 8 / 5
Bicycle / 1 / 2 / 1 / 0 / 4 / 3 / 0 / 2 / 1 / 0
N/A / 3 / 1 / - / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Total / 52 / 71 / 50 / 68 / 45 / 49 / 41 / 54 / 39 / 33

2009 Traffic Fatalities by Ward

Pedestrian / Driver, Passenger
Motorcycle
Ward 1
Ward 2 / 2 / 0
0 / 4
Ward 3
Ward 4 / 1 / 1
1 / 3
Ward 5
Ward 6 / 5 / 1
2 / 0
Ward 7
Ward 8 / 1 / 6
5 / 3