1. Never Drive Faster Than Your Guardian Angel Can Fly and Other Thoughts on Highway Safety March 28, 2007
Sara Saulcy, Senior Economist
Wyoming Dept. of Employment, Research & Planning
P.O. Box 2760 * Casper, WY
Phone: * Fax:
Introduction: *I’ve been with Research and Planning for about 6 ½ years. *One of my many functions is to collect Wyoming data for the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries program, otherwise known as CFOI. These data are compiled with national statistics to determine workplace fatality rates, among other data. One problem that data collectors run into over and over is highway deaths. It has been the leading cause of occupational fatalities both in Wyoming and in the U.S. for 15 years.
To give you an idea of the prevalence of highway deaths, I’ll ask you a question: how many of you have been in a plane crash? How many of you have been in a motor vehicle accident? *Between 1999 and 2003, an average of 138 people died in plane crashes each year. During that same time, an average of more than 36,000 people died each year in motor vehicle accidents. [go to next slide]

2. Death Risk
*Average number of people killed in motor vehicle accidents per year between 1999 and 2003 is about the number of people who were living in Fremont County in 2005 – that’s a lot of carnage.

3. Topics U.S. and Wyoming nonfatal work-related injuries
U.S. and Wyoming fatal occupational injuries
Wyoming fatal work-related highway accidents
Wyoming highway accident statistics
Comparison of U.S. rural and urban accident statistics
Understanding rural highway dangers
Accident costs
Accident prevention
*Focus is on highway accidents. *Will compare highway accidents compare to other types of workplace accidents. *First - look at nonfatal workplace injuries in the U.S. and Wyoming. *Second - look at fatal workplace injuries in the U.S. and Wyoming. Third - take a closer look at work-related highway accidents – includes highway accidents that may or may not be work-related. *Examine data about rural and urban highway dangers *Discuss what makes rural highways so uniquely dangerous. *Costs of highway accidents *Methods to prevent highway accidents on the job.

4. U.S. Nonfatal Occupational Injuries
*Manufacturing has the largest percent of nonfatal workplace injuries followed by Health Care and Social Assistance. *Notice that Mining only had 0.5% of nonfatal workplace injuries.

5. Wyoming Nonfatal Occupational Injuries
*In Wyoming, Construction had the largest percent of nonfatal workplace injuries followed by Natural Resources & Mining.

6. Wyoming Nonfatal Occupational Injuries
*Chart shows transportation accidents accounted for the 2nd lowest percentage. *Transportation accidents includes all types of transportation, including railroads and aircraft.

7. U.S. Fatal Occupational Injuries
*People commuting to or from work are not included. *If a person is driving a company vehicle or if they are being paid for their driving time, these are counted as workplace fatalities. *If the travel is part of a condition of employment, then these deaths count. Example: travel for required training, even if you’re not actually in training at the time of the death. *Annual workplace deaths have declined by about 1,000 since the 1990’s.

8. U.S. Fatal Occupational Injuries
By industry, the highest number of deaths occurred in the Construction and Transportation and Warehousing industries. However, the highest fatality rates per 100,000 workers were in Agriculture and Mining. While Transportation workers often die in states other than where they are residents, Agriculture and Mining workers are more likely to be residents of the states in which they die. Wyoming has a large number of nonresident truck drivers die on the state’s highways, but not very many nonresidents who die that are employed in Agriculture or Mining.

9. U.S. Fatal Occupational Injuries
*Largest number in Transportation and material moving, and construction and extraction. *Fatality rates were highest for farming, fishing, and forestry occupations and transportation and material moving workers. *In Wyoming, OSHA only has oversight of agriculture businesses that employ 11 or more workers. The CFOI program counts all deaths regardless of firm size.

10. U.S. Fatal Occupational Injuries
*Slices of the pie are divvied up to show the most frequent events within events or exposures. *Highway accidents routinely account for 25% or more of all work-related deaths.

11. U.S. Fatal Occupational Injuries
*Shows the four most frequent work-related causes of death from 1992 to *While homicides in the workplace have declined substantially, highway incidents have stayed between 1,200 and 1,500 per year since 1993.

12. Wyoming Fatal Occupational Injuries
*Over the 12 years that this chart captures, Wyoming has averaged between two and four work-related deaths per month. Work-related deaths in the state rose from

13. Wyoming Fatal Occupational Injuries
*If someone was injured in Mining, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the injury source was from mining equipment - could be a result of highway accidents.

14. Wyoming Fatal Occupational Injuries
*Industry fatalities could have occurred by any of these events. *News about highway accidents isn’t all bad – for the first time in three years, highway incidents declined.

15. Wyoming Fatal Occupational Injuries
*For the first time since 2002, highway incidents constituted fewer than half of all work-relate deaths in the state. *In 2005, one of every ten highway deaths was work-related. *Preliminary data for 2006 from the Wyoming Department of Transportation is that 195 people died on Wyoming’s highways last year. *Uptick in highway deaths corresponds to increased commuting in Wyoming.

16. Natrona County Commuting
*Figure shows commuting flows into and out of Natrona County. *Research conducted by a colleague has found that commuting to counties with higher population has grown substantially. *Increased travel increases the chances of being in an accident.

17. Wyoming Fatal Occupational Injuries
*Suspect that the majority of those with unknown seatbelt usage most likely were not wearing their seatbelt.

18. Wyoming Fatal Highway Accident Statistics
*Fatalities include those who are and are not driving for work purposes. *Fatality rate includes nonresidents who died in Wyoming but were not counted in the denominator for Wyoming’s population.

19. Wyoming Fatal Highway Accident Statistics
*Person’s deaths can be included in multiple categories. *About two-thirds of all people killed weren’t wearing a seat belt. *Alcohol is a factor in around 40% of all deaths. *About 40 percent of all deaths in a typical year involved driving over the posted speed limit.

20. Wyoming Fatal Highway Accident Statistics
*The single vehicle rollover has been the leading vehicle crash type for the last 23 years – account for about two-thirds of all fatal accidents.

21. U.S. Rural & Urban Highway Accident Facts
More than half of fatal crashes occur in rural areas: 59% of total traffic fatalities for all vehicles and 64% for passenger vehicles.
The fatality rate in rural areas is TWICE that of urban areas: 2.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled vs. 1.1 in urban areas.
Restraint use in rural fatal crashes is LOWER than in urban crashes: 36% vs. 48%.
Nearly 6 of every 10 children who die in crashes are unrestrained.
Properly installed child safety seats reduce the risk of death by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers.
Seat belts reduce the risk of death or injury 45%-60%.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (n.d.). Partners for Rural Traffic Safety Action Kit. Retrieved March 16, 2007, from

22. U.S. Rural vs. Urban Highway Fatalities
*chart illustrates differences in traffic fatalities based on rural or urban location in the U.S. *Rural areas consistently have higher numbers of deaths than urban areas.

23. U.S. Rural vs. Urban Highway Fatalities
*Deaths in rural areas are also higher based on miles traveled. *Deaths in rural areas tend to be higher using vehicle miles traveled as the measuring stuck because the speeds are higher in the areas traveled and the types of hazards encountered are more severe. For example, most likely you won’t be swerving to miss a deer at 75 miles per hour in downtown Manhattan.

24. U.S. Rural vs. Urban Highway Fatalities
*Chart illustrates the speed differences. Speeds involved in fatal crashes in rural areas tend to be significantly higher. *Long distances with few towns in between permit higher driving speeds.

25. U.S. Rural vs. Urban Highway Fatalities
Light trucks are more likely to be involved in fatalities in rural crashes than urban. In Wyoming, around half of all deaths are to occupants of light trucks. We’ll talk more about that in a moment.

26. U.S. Rural vs. Urban Highway Fatalities
*Drivers are the ones who are most frequently killed in both rural and urban areas, but a larger percentage of drivers are killed in rural areas.

27. Why Is Driving in Rural Areas So Dangerous?
Drivers and passengers aren’t wearing their seat belts.
Wyomingites drive more on average than anyone else in the country.
Drinking and driving.
Distractions.
Swerving to avoid animals.
Types of vehicles driven.
Long distances to medical care.
Bullet 1: Human bodies aren’t designed to withstand the physics of being thrown from a vehicle. Bullet 2: Average Wyoming driver traveled 18,485 miles in about 8,500 miles more than the national average. - gives Wyoming drivers significantly more opportunities to make mistakes. Bullet 3: 8 UW student athletes killed by Clint Haskins who was driving drunk. Bullet 4: cell phones Bullet 4: Lieutenant Larry Jordan says, “Nobody wants to hit Bambi.” There’s more of them than you, he said, so don’t swerve. Bullet 5: national studies suggest that SUV’s and pickup trucks are more likely to roll over because of the vehicles’ higher center of gravity. Since Wyoming drivers own many of both types of vehicles, Wyoming drivers are at greater risk of being in a fatal crash. Bullet 7: if you crash in Shirley Basin, it could be awhile before medical care arrives.
Source: Matteson, C. (2007, February 11). Over and over again. Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from

28. Direct Costs of Nonfatal & Fatal Accidents to Employers
Workers’ Compensation benefits.
Healthcare costs.
Increases in medical insurance premiums.
Auto insurance and liability claims and settlements.
Physical and vocational rehabilitation costs.
Life insurance and survivor benefits.
Group health insurance dependent coverage.
The biggest cost of accident, especially when there is a fatality, are the lives lost. However there are a wide variety of direct and indirect costs associated with accidents. These are expenses for which there is a dollar amount owed.

29. Direct Costs of Nonfatal & Fatal Accidents to Employers continued
Property damage (e.g., equipment, products, etc.).
Motor vehicle repair and replacement.
Emergency medical services costs (ambulance or medivac helicopter).
Vehicle towing, impoundment, and inspection fees.
Municipality or utility fees for damage to roads, signs, or poles.

30. Indirect Costs of Accidents to Employers
Supervisor’s time (rescheduling, making special arrangements)
Fleet manager’s time to coordinate vehicle repair, replacement, etc.
Reassignment of personnel to cover for missing employees (less efficient)
Overtime pay (to cover work of missing employees)
Employee replacement

31. Indirect Costs of Accidents to Employers continued
Re-entry & retraining of injured employees
Administrative costs (documentation of injuries, treatment, absences, crash investigation)
Inspection costs
Failure to meet customer requirements resulting in loss of business
Bad publicity, loss of business
Source: Occupational Safety & Health Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. (n.d.). Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from

32. Estimated Cost of a One Accident to a Typical U.S. Employer
$16,500 – the estimated costs to an employer for an average crash.
$74,000 – the estimated costs to an employer of an on-the-job crash that results in an injury.
More than $500,000 – the estimated costs to an employer when there is a fatality.
Note that this is just the average estimate – the actual costs may be higher or lower depending on the circumstances of a crash.
Source: Occupational Safety & Health Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. (n.d.). Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from

33. Costs of Accidents to Employers
Think of that – 424 million for a state the size of Wyoming. That’s a lot of dough!

34. Employer Accident Prevention Strategies
Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) 10-Step Program to Minimize Crash Risk
Senior management commitment & employee involvement.
Written policies & procedures.
Driver agreements.
Motor vehicle record (MVR) checks.
Crash reporting & investigation.
Bullet 1: Getting senior management involved shows workers that traffic safety matters. If employees are involved in the plans, they are more likely to be willing participants. Bullet 2: written policies and procedures help workers understand the expectations when they drive for work. Bullet 3: driver agreements allow employers to hold workers’ “feet to the fire” if they violate policy. For example, if they are involved in an accident in which they weren’t wearing their seat belt. Bullet 4: depending on the nature of your employees’ driving demands, a motor vehicle records check may be in order to screen out unsafe drivers. This especially comes to mind for alcohol offenses. Bullet 5: institution of crash reporting and investigation procedures can help employers to understand crash causes and institute prevention mechanisms. For example, if a number of crashes occur that involve driving with a cell phone, you may use that information to institute a policy that cell phones may not be used while driving.

35. Employer Accident Prevention Strategies
NETS 10-Step Program continued
Vehicle selection, maintenance, & inspection
Disciplinary action system
Reward/incentive program
Driver training/communication
Regulatory compliance
Bullet 6: Routine maintenance and inspection can help prevent accidents by catching potential problems before they become actual problems. Bullet 7: institute disciplinary actions for offenders of the firm’s vehicle policy. Bullet 8: complementing the disciplinary system, institute a reward or incentive program which encourages safe driving behavior. Bullet 9: Department of Employment employees are required to watch two driver safety videos on an annual basis. A former math teacher of mine said “never underestimate the power of telling someone something they already know.” Bullet 10: depending on the nature of your firm, regulatory issues may affect your business. See the handout for agencies that may impact your business in this regard.
Source: Occupational Safety & Health Administration, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and Network of Employers for Traffic Safety. (n.d.). Guidelines for Employers to Reduce Motor Vehicle Crashes. Retrieved March 13, 2007, from

36. Employer Accident Prevention Strategies
Don’t wait for an accident to happen before you discuss safe travel with your employees.
REMIND THEM TO BUCKLE UP.
Slow down on slick roads.
Avoid driving distractions.
Help your employees overcome the “it will never happen to me” attitude.
Employer traffic safety resources on the Internet.
Sub bullet 1: this is the number 1 way you can avoid becoming a statistic. Sub Bullet 4: Even the best of drivers get complacent – discuss Mom & Dad’s accident.

37. In a Nutshell
Wyoming transportation accidents (includes all forms of transportation) accounted for 6.3% of nonfatal work-related injuries but 54.3% of fatal workplace injuries
Highway accidents killed 170 people in Wyoming in 2005, 66% of whom were not wearing seat belts.
Fatalities on Wyoming’s highways are costly, both in lives lost and financially.
Prevention is the key.

38. Let’s be safe out there