Report: Costs from traffic accidents more than double costs from major crimes in 2009
Traffic accidents might be costlier than you’d think.
The total cost of traffic crashes in the state of Michigan was more than double the cost of serious index crimes in 2009 — approximately $4.8 billion, according to a new report.
The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute study showed that traffic crashes and index crimes together cost more than $6.7 billion in 2009. The study, which has been done every five years since 1988, says that number is actually $1.2 billion less than in 2004, a 19 percent decrease.
The Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning funded the study, which used 2009 crash and index crime data to estimate the dollar costs. The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines index crimes as serious violations such as the Part I crimes of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.
The report included both state and county totals. In Washtenaw County, traffic crashes cost approximately $288.1 million, as compared to $93.7 million in index crimes.
When expanded to include quality-of-life costs, outside of money, traffic crashes resulted in $9.1 billion in total costs. That total far exceeded the $4.7 billion cost of index crimes in 2009, according to the study.
The report stated the comprehensive costs of traffic crashes decreased by 27 percent from 2004 to 2009. Traffic fatalities also fell 25 percent in that same time period.
The report defines monetary costs as money spent on medical care, future earnings, public services, property damage and loss. Non-monetary quality of life costs are pain, suffering and fear. The report derives these values from jury awards for pain, suffering and lost quality of life due to physical injuries or fear.
“Both traffic crashes and crime impose significant economic and social burdens on individuals and society through loss of life,” the report authors wrote, “as well as property damage and loss.”
To view the full report, click here.
Kyle Feldscher covers police and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Beth Kirton
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 2:26 p.m.
why wouldn't we "think"? Everyone knows traffic accidents are prevalent. Again, what passes for journalism on this website is laughable.
Andy
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 2:13 p.m.
One of many reasons why I live someplace where I don't have to drive to work.
trs80
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 12:49 p.m.
They really should just make it harder to obtain a drivers license.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 6:28 p.m.
'They' (State of Michigan, Secretary of State) have made it harder to obtain a drivers license. The program is called The Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) and it consists of three licensing levels: Level 1 License - a supervised learner's license issued to teen drivers at least 14 years 9 months old. Level 2 License - an intermediate license that limits the unsupervised nighttime driving for teen drivers at least 16 years old. Level 3 License - a full-privilege driver license issued to teen drivers at least 17 years old after they have successfully completed all the previous instructional and driving requirements.
nickcarraweigh
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
This really should surprise nobody. People who have never been in a car accident are the modern-day equivalent of unicorn sighters, Such people are so fortunate that other folks simply don't believe them. On the other hand, not only have the overwhelming majority of Ann Arborites never been the victim of serious crime, not only has nobody in their family never been such a victim, nobody on their block or in their neighborhod has either. They may, in fact, not personally know anybody who's been a serious crime victim (and I am not talking about having vegetables in pots disappearing from your front porch). These facts are what make the outraged, panicky, fearful and "the-sky-is-falling" comments on annarbor.com's daily recital of crime news so amusing.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 12:06 p.m.
These statistics have a direct impact on insurance rates and the cost of insurance. As a result, real insurance costs in the county, all other things being equal, will have decreased at a lower rate than elsewhere in the state. Our cost of living related to insurance costs relative to other parts of the state would likely have increased over this five year period. Our competitiveness on this metric is falling behind. Of course, the fact that our county is falling behind improvements elsewhere in the state directly impacts our quality of life here in Washtenaw County. No one wants their family members in an accident or as a victim of crime.
Ricebrnr
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 11:47 a.m.
Sounds like for the good if society it is time to ban private ownership of vehicles. Only authorized people should be allowed to drive and that will reduce all of these negative impacts right? After all the Founding Fathers didn't include the right to drive in the Constitutiion.
Stephen Lange Ranzini
Thu, Aug 25, 2011 : 11:09 a.m.
Looking at the 2006 report for comparison, I note that the comprehensive cost of traffic crashes decreased in Washtenaw County at a much slower rate than statewide, a 17.5% decrease versus 27% statewide. I believe that the overall decrease statewide (as nationally) is due to improvements in vehicle safety and road design. Why Washtenaw County's rate of decrease is MUCH LOWER than statewide bears some further study. Perhaps the poor snow removal practices in the county play a role in this? A link to the 2006 study is here: <a href="http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/48741" rel='nofollow'>http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/48741</a> As for crime, while the total comprehensive cost of crime decreased by 7.9% statewide, it only decreased by 1.2% in Washtenaw County. Why was the increase in crime so MUCH LESS than statewide? What went wrong in our county??? Statewide 2004 10,936 crimes $5.1 billion 2009 10,718 crimes $4.7 billion Washtenaw County 2004 $93.7 million 2009 $92.6 million Also of note, the decrease in crimes in our county was solely due to a decrease in vehicle thefts (part of a nationwide trend due to improved car anti-theft technology. Rapes had a significant increase (160 vs. 128) and most other categories except burglaries (2,446 vs. 2,005) had a small decrease.