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Idahoans share economic costs of traffic crashes

The financial toll for traffic crashes in Idaho was nearly $1.8 billion in 2006, or $1,210 per Idahoan throughout the state, according to ITD’s Office of Highway Operations and Safety.

“Our figures are based on crash cost estimates established by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA),” said Mary Hunter, ITD’s Highway Safety Manager.

Components of the cost estimates include productivity losses, property damage, medical costs, rehabilitation costs, travel delays, legal and court costs, emergency service costs, insurance administration costs, premature funeral costs and costs to employers.

“Everyone wins when traffic crashes decrease,” Hunter said. “Lives are saved, injuries are prevented and crash costs paid by the public are reduced.”

OHOS tracks the economic costs for Idaho motor vehicle crashes each year as part of the annual Idaho Traffic Crash Report. The document is used by state and local transportation, law enforcement, health and other agencies coping with the increasing costs of traffic crashes. Agencies use the data to identify traffic safety problems and target areas for developing crash reduction and injury prevention programs.

The OHOS Mobility Service group is working on the economic costs resulting from traffic congestion in Idaho.