3,939 CRASHES IN
CONNECTICUT, CT
2015

In 2015, motorists comprised the largest group of killed or seriously injured individuals, with 17 fatalities and 1,072 injuries. Vulnerable road users also suffered significant harm; four pedestrians were killed and 24 were injured in 29 separate incidents. Additionally, one cyclist was killed and 12 were injured in crashes involving bicycles.

Crash frequency in Litchfield County peaked on Fridays, which saw 605 incidents, and during the 3 p.m. hour, when 347 crashes occurred. The data shows a clear pattern of crashes occurring during daylight hours, with 2,803 incidents (71.2%) happening in daylight. In contrast, 969 crashes (24.6%) were recorded in dark conditions, whether on lighted or unlighted roadways.

The vast majority of crashes, 76.9% or 3,030 incidents, were property-damage-only events with no reported injuries. Crashes involving some level of injury (possible, minor, or serious) accounted for 22.5% of the total. In 2015, there were 21 distinct fatal crashes, which resulted in a total of 22 fatalities.

Severity is per crash event (most severe injury). 21 fatal crash events resulted in 22 persons killed.

The majority of crashes occurred in ideal driving conditions. Approximately 74.8% of crashes (2,945) happened in clear weather, 73.8% (2,906) on dry road surfaces, and 71.2% (2,803) during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were less frequent, with rain-related crashes accounting for 338 incidents and snow-related crashes for 180 incidents.

Among all individuals involved in crashes, the 45-54 age group was the most represented, with 1,365 people. The 26-34 age group followed with 1,177 individuals. Analysis of the 6,632 vehicles involved shows that Ford was the most common make, appearing in 819 instances, followed by Chevrolet (602) and Honda (597).

The most crashes, 1,063 incidents, occurred in zones with a posted speed limit of 25 mph. While crashes were widespread across various speed limits, the fatality rate within zones varied significantly. For instance, while only 19 crashes occurred in 55 mph zones, 10.5% of those were fatal. Similarly, 1.55% of crashes in 65 mph zones were fatal, compared to just 0.38% in 25 mph zones.

The distribution of crashes across Litchfield County was concentrated in its more populated areas. The city of Torrington recorded the highest number of incidents with 836 crashes, accounting for 21.2% of the county's total. New Milford followed with 593 crashes (15.1%), and Watertown had 406 crashes (10.3%).

Analysis of roadway classification shows that Collector roads saw the highest number of crashes, with 403 incidents recorded. Minor Arterial roads accounted for 253 crashes, and Principal Arterial roads for 232. Limited-access highways, including Freeways and Expressways, were the site of 153 crashes.

Crashes were distributed across different roadway jurisdictions, with state-maintained routes (State and US Routes) accounting for a combined 2,496 incidents. Local roads under municipal jurisdiction were the location for 1,245 crashes. This indicates that the majority of crashes occurred on roads maintained by the state.

Of the crashes where roadway ownership was documented, the vast majority occurred on public roads. A total of 3,646 crashes took place on public thoroughfares. In contrast, 134 crashes, or 3.5% of the total, occurred on private roads, such as those in parking lots or private developments.

From the crashes where a rural or urban designation was recorded, a slight majority occurred in rural settings. Rural areas accounted for 762 crashes, representing 55.1% of these classified incidents. Urban areas were the location for the remaining 620 crashes.

The majority of crashes did not occur at an intersection. A total of 2,877 incidents, or 73% of all crashes, happened at non-junction locations. For crashes that did occur at intersections, T-intersections were the most common site with 582 incidents, followed by four-way intersections with 380 incidents.

Among crashes where the first harmful event was a collision with a fixed object, the most frequently struck object was a guardrail face, which was hit 223 times. Utility poles and trees were also common hazards, with vehicles striking utility poles 122 times and trees 118 times. Together, poles and trees accounted for 240 of these single-vehicle, run-off-road crashes.

Passenger cars were the most common vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 3,795 of all vehicles. Sport Utility Vehicles (1,272) and Pickups (717) were the next most frequent. Notably, 159 medium or heavy trucks and 95 motorcycles were also involved in crashes during this period.

Among vehicles involved in crashes where traffic control was noted, the majority (4,868 vehicles) were at locations with no control device. At intersections with controls, 1,029 vehicles were involved in crashes at locations with a traffic signal, while 491 were at intersections controlled by a stop sign.

In crashes involving vulnerable road users, motorcyclists were the most frequently involved group, with 92 incidents. There were also 29 crashes involving pedestrians and 13 involving bicyclists. Combined, pedestrians and bicyclists were involved in 42 crashes, representing 31.3% of these specific incidents.

Analysis of contributing driver actions reveals that following too closely was the most cited behavior, attributed to 885 drivers. Failing to keep in the proper lane was the second most common action, noted for 577 drivers, followed by running off the roadway, which was a factor for 359 drivers.

While most drivers were recorded as 'Apparently Normal', several impairing conditions were noted. A total of 158 drivers were identified as being under the influence of medications, drugs, or alcohol. Additionally, 115 drivers were reported as being asleep or fatigued at the time of their crash.

The most common pre-crash action for vehicles was driving straight ahead, which was the case for 2,850 vehicles. A significant number of vehicles were stationary just before impact, with 637 stopped in traffic. Another common pre-crash maneuver was negotiating a curve, reported for 614 vehicles.

The front of the vehicle was the most common point of impact, recorded as the 'Sector 12' or north impact for 1,828 vehicles. The second most frequent impact point was the rear of the vehicle, or 'Sector 6', which occurred in 1,165 instances. These two locations represent the majority of initial vehicle impacts.

In incidents involving pedestrians, the most common recorded action was 'No Improper Action,' attributed to 15 individuals. However, several improper actions were also noted, including 5 instances of pedestrians being in the roadway improperly and 3 instances of a 'Dart/Dash' maneuver into traffic.

The most frequent type of crash was a front-to-rear collision, which accounted for 1,125 incidents, or 28.6% of the total. Angle collisions were the second most common type, with 575 incidents (14.6%). Sideswipes in the same direction occurred in 272 crashes.

Of the 8,782 people involved in crashes, the majority were drivers, with 6,322 individuals recorded in this role. Passengers constituted the next largest group, with 1,796 people. The data also includes 30 pedestrians and 13 bicyclists involved in these traffic incidents.

Across all 8,399 persons with a recorded injury status, 22 individuals sustained fatal injuries. A total of 1,108 persons were injured, with severities ranging from possible (549 persons) and minor (500 persons) to serious (59 persons). The vast majority, 7,269 individuals, were not injured.

While most vehicle occupants (6,197) used both a shoulder and lap belt, a notable number did not. The data indicates that 538 occupants used no safety equipment at the time of the crash. Additionally, various forms of child restraints were in use, including 125 forward-facing systems and 34 rear-facing systems.

The most common type of crash involved two vehicles, with 2,354 such incidents occurring. Single-vehicle crashes were also frequent, accounting for 1,434 incidents, or 36.4% of all crashes. Multi-vehicle pile-ups were rare, though there were 134 crashes involving three vehicles and one incident involving seven vehicles.