WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have released a report on 2009 motor vehicle crashes that shows a decrease in various types of crashes.

The report indicates that fatal crashes, non-fatal crashes, injury crashes and property-damage-only crashes all decreased significantly between 2008 and 2009 by 5.3 percent – a reduction of 306,000 vehicle crashes. The total number of vehicle crashes in 2009 was 5,505,000.
           
Both roadway departure crashes and intersection crashes declined from 2008 to 2009 as well, with roadway departure crashes decreasing from 19,878 to 18,087, and intersection crashes decreasing from 7,809 to 7,043. About a third of the crashes were the result of alcohol-impaired driving, according to the report.
           
The data also shows that the rate of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled has decreased to 1.13 percent, down from 1.26 percent in 2008, while the vehicle miles traveled has slightly increased.