In 2002, 42,815 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes -an increase of 1.5 percent from 2001 (42,196). The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2002 was 1.51. The injury rate per 100 million vehicle miles of travel in 2002 was 103. The fatality rate per 100,000 population was 14.85 in 2002, slightly higher than the 2001 rate of 14.79.

An average of 117 persons died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2002- one every 12 minutes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for every age from 2 through 33 years old. Vehicle occupants accounted for 87 percent of traffic fatalities in 2002. The remaining 13 percent were pedestrians, pedalcyclists, and other nonoccupants.

Table 1.

Motor Vehicle Occupants and Nonoccupants Killed and Injured,1992-2002

Table 2.

Persons Killed and Injured and Fatality and Injury Rates,1992-2002

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