December 30, 2002
Traffic Fatalities in DC Decline Nearly 30 Percent During 2002
The number of people killed in traffic crashes in the District of Columbia declined nearly 30 percent during 2002, according to preliminary statistics from the Metropolitan Police Department. A drop in speeding-related fatal crashes accounted for more than half of the overall decline.
As of December 30, there were 50 traffic fatalities in the District during 2002, compared with 71 fatalities in all of 2001, a decrease of 29.6 percent. Excessive speed continues to be the leading cause of fatal traffic crashes in DC, accounting for at least 58 percent of the traffic deaths this year. However, the number of speeding-related fatalities declined from 40 in 2001 to 29 in 2002, preliminary figures show.
"The Metropolitan Police Department has worked very hard over the past year, using both traditional and automated traffic enforcement strategies, to make our roads and highways safer for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists," said Chief of Police Charles H. Ramsey. "While it is tragic that any lives are lost in a traffic crash, a 30 percent reduction in fatalities shows that we are beginning to make a difference in what is one of the top public safety priorities of our residents," Ramsey added.
2002 was the first full year of the District's photo radar speeding reduction program. Since the program started in August 2001, both the percentage of aggressive speeders and overall average speeds have declined significantly in areas monitored with photo radar. A large percentage of the speeding-related fatalities in 2002 occurred during the late-night and early-morning hours, when photo radar is not operational. The MPDC is currently examining options for expanding overnight speed enforcement using both traditional and automated approaches.
"This reduction in traffic fatalities is very gratifying and strong evidence that our traffic planning and calming efforts and our pedestrian safety program are working," said Dan Tangherlini, Director of the District Department of Transportation. "In 2003, we look forward to continuing our DDOT/MPDC efforts, including increased child restraint and speed and alcohol enforcement, to further reduce fatalities."
Officials cited another positive sign in the statistics: no children were among the 50 traffic fatality victims in 2002. In 2001, five traffic deaths involved young people under the age of 17. The MPDC continued its aggressive enforcement of DC's child passenger safety law during 2002. That law was recently enhanced to require age-appropriate safety seats for all passengers under the age of 8.
Additional information on traffic safety in the District, including the MPDC's automated enforcement programs, is available on the MPDC website.
