Polk County is one of the least likely places to be killed or injured in a motor vehicle crash in North Carolina, according to a recent AAA Carolinas analysis of 2008 crash data.
Polk ranked in all categories as the safest counties in the state for motorists with one of the lowest percentages of accidents per vehicle miles driven.
The safest counties for all motorists with the smallest percentage of accidents based on miles driven were: Currituck, Swain, Polk, Camden and McDowell.
Safest counties for injury crashes were: Hyde, Perquimans, Tyrrell, Currituck and Polk. Safest for fatal crashes were Avery, Washington, Graham, Pasquotank and Carteret.
Polk County ranked fairly safe with no fatalities involving tractor-trailers in 2008 and five crashes with injuries involving tractor-trailers in 2008. There were 14 injuries involving motorcycles in Polk County in 2008 and one fatality involving a motorcycle.
Polk County had 381 total motor vehicle crashes in 2008 with nine fatalities.
North Carolina traffic deaths dropped by 15 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year with 1,452 deaths. It was the first time since 1998 that North Carolina had less than 1,500 traffic fatalities.
The drop has been mainly attributed to two percent fewer miles traveled due to a down economy and more targeted traffic enforcement on crash-prone roads and highways.
In 2007, North Carolina was ranked 13th most dangerous state per mile driven with a fatality rate at 1.62 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, according to Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). The North Carolina rate was 1.43 in 2008, which is an improvement. South Carolina was ranked the third most dangerous state in the nation in 2007.
“It is gratifying to see the decrease in fatalities but dismaying to note that nearly four people die every day on North Carolina roads,” David E. Parsons, CEO and President of AAA Carolinas said.
The deadliest counties, based on the likelihood of a certain type of crash based on total vehicle miles driven in order included, Pitt, New Hanover, Mecklenburg, Person and Durham.
Highest ranked counties for injuries included New Hanover, Pitt, Graham, Mecklenburg and Cumberland. Highest ranked fatal crash counties included Hertford, Tyrrell, Columbus, Robeson and Lenoir Counties.
Accidents involving heavy trucks dropped by 15 percent and traffic deaths involving tractor-trailers dropped by 13 percent in 2008. There were 11 fatalities involving tractor-trailers in 2008 compared to 128 in 2007.
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