Illinois Crash Statistics

Safe Driving:

Life Or Death

2015 Illinois Crash Facts and Statistics

This report was compiled May, 2017 by The Illinois Department Of Transportation

One of the guiding principles of The Illinois Department Of Transportation is safety. We must use the lessons these crash statistics teach us to prevent injuries and fatalities from occurring on Illinois roadways.   In 2015, Illinois experienced 914 fatal crashes on public roadways that resulted in 998 deaths. This is a 7 percent increase over the prior year.  Additionally,  the department saw increases in the number of total crashes (5.5 percent) and total injuries (7.6 percent). We are more determined than ever to address these rising statistics.  One life lost is one too many. Under IDOT’s leadership, several statewide programs help spread the message for safe driving behavior. Click It or Ticket, Start Seeing Motorcycles and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over are just a few initiatives intended to educate the public to help make them safe users of our transportation system.

Crash Data Overview

In 2015, there were 313,316 crashes involving motor vehicles in Illinois. Injury crashes accounted for 21 percent of these crashes (65,744), while fatal crashes (914) accounted for less than 1 percent of these overall crashes. Crashes involving an A- injury, meaning  injury other than a fatal injury, that prevents the injured person from walking, driving or normally continuing the activities they once did, accounted for 15.3 percent of injury crashes. Crashes involving pedestrians accounted for 1.6 percent of overall crashes.  Crashes involving pedalcyclists  accounted for 1.1 percent of overall crashes. Note:  Reported Fatalities of Pedalcyclists under 26 years of age represent 45% of total reported pedalcyclist  fatalities and serious injuries. Of these, 74% were male and 26% were female.  90% of the pedalcyclist fatalities and serious injuries were in urban areas.  On state roadways in urban areas, pedalcyclist fatalities and serious injuries decreased by 50%.

Crashes involving speed accounted for 32.2 percent of overall crashes, 34.2 percent of fatal crashes, and 37.0 percent of injury crashes in 2015. Crashes involving motorcycles accounted for 1.1 percent of total crashes, 15.8 percent of fatal crashes and 3.7 percent of injury crashes. Crashes involving tractor-trailers accounted for 3.8 percent of overall crashes, 8.8 percent of fatal crashes and 2.9 percent of injury crashes. Crashes occurring in work zones accounted for 2.2 percent of total crashes, 4.0 percent of fatal crashes and 2.1 percent of injury crashes. Crashes involving deer accounted for 5.1 percent of overall crashes in 2015. There was an average of 1.1 deaths per fatal crash. 81.3 percent of fatal crashes occurred on dry roadways. 49.0 percent of fatal crashes occurred during daylight hours.

Person Data Overview

91,675 persons were injured in motor vehicles crashes 12,844 persons had A- injuries occurring from these crashes. These A-injuries account for 14 percent of total injuries. 998 persons were fatally injured in crashes. 650 drivers were fatally injured in motor vehicles crashes. 170 passengers of a motor vehicle were killed in crashes. 150 pedestrians were killed in crashes.  26 pedalcyclists were fatally injured in motor vehicle crashes.147 motorcyclists were killed in crashes. Teenagers, age 16-19, account for 9.5 percent of the total A-injuries and 8.1 percent  of the total fatalities.

Here are 10 Common Distractions While Driving…

As we all know, many deadly accidents on the roads are caused by those guilty of distracted driving.  In an ongoing campaign to stop Distracted Driving on the roads, Being Single asked our readers to send us the most common or bizarre driving distractions they have either experienced or observed.  Here are the Top 10...  1. Talking on hand-held phone. 2. Texting  3. Applying lipstick & makeup w/mirror pulled down. 4. Polishing fingernails.  5. Searching for dropped phone.  6. Yelling at other drivers.  7.  Fidgeting with radio, CD Players, etc.  8. Eating food out of a plate.  9.  Arguing with someone on the phone. 10. Taking off bra or panty hose.  Please click below to watch video…