Oklahoma City Car Accident Statistics

Clayton T. Hasbrook

Written by Clayton T. Hasbrook. Last modified on February 20, 2024

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You’ve probably heard about the alarming increase in car accidents in Oklahoma City. But what do the statistics actually tell us?

Fatal Crashes

The heartbreaking reality is that fatal crashes occur far too often in Oklahoma City. According to data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office, there were 256 fatal car crashes in Oklahoma City in 2019. This is a significant increase from 2018, which saw only 204 fatal crashes.

Most of these crashes involved only one vehicle, and most victims were male. Alcohol use contributed to 40% of fatal crashes, and nearly half of the victims were not wearing a seatbelt.

More must be done to reduce the number of fatal crashes in Oklahoma City.

Injury Crashes

According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (ODPS), over 11,000 injury crashes were reported in Oklahoma City in 2019. This is an increase of over 4% from the number of injury crashes reported in 2018.

The average number of people injured in these crashes was 12 per incident. Furthermore, the ODPS found that most injury crashes occurred on weekdays, with the highest occurring on Thursday and Friday.

Most injury crashes were caused by driver errors, such as failing to yield the right-of-way, following too closely, and making unsafe lane changes. Additionally, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists were found to be more likely to be injured in crashes than occupants of motor vehicles.

The ODPS also states that the most common type of crash injury was lacerations, followed by contusions and fractures. To reduce the number of injury crashes, the ODPS recommends that drivers obey the speed limit and other traffic laws, stay aware of their surroundings, and look out for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Motorcyclists should wear appropriate safety gear, such as helmets and reflective clothing. Additionally, pedestrians should be mindful of their surroundings and cross at designated crosswalks. Taking these safety precautions makes it possible to reduce the number of injury crashes in Oklahoma City.

Causes of Accidents

Becoming familiar with the common causes of accidents can help you stay safe on the road. According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the most common causes of car accidents in Oklahoma City are driver inattention, following too closely, failure to yield, and speeding.

Driver inattention is the most common cause, almost one-third of all crashes. It usually happens when drivers become distracted by something in or outside the car, and their attention is no longer focused on the road.

Following too closely is the second most common cause and is typically due to drivers not leaving enough distance between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them.

Failure to yield and speeding are the next two most common causes, comprising about 12% of all accidents in Oklahoma City.

It’s important to be aware of these common causes and practice defensive driving to minimize the risk of an accident.

Driver Demographics

Knowing which drivers are most likely to be involved in accidents can help you stay safe. According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the following demographic information is associated with those most likely to be involved in accidents:

  • Age:
  • Drivers aged 16-20 are more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than any other age group.
  • Drivers aged 21-29 are the most likely to be involved in injury crashes.
  • Drivers aged 30-59 are most likely to cause property damage.
  • Gender:
  • Male drivers are more likely than female drivers to be involved in fatal crashes.
  • Female drivers are more likely than male drivers to be involved in injury crashes.
  • No significant difference exists in the likelihood of males and females being involved in property damage crashes.
  • Time:
  • The majority of fatal crashes occur between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM.
  • The majority of injury crashes occur between the hours of 3 PM and 9 PM.
  • The majority of property damage crashes occur between the hours of 9 AM and 3 PM.

By understanding the demographics associated with car accidents, drivers can make informed decisions about when and how to drive to increase their road safety.

Time of Day

Heading out on the roads? It’s important to know when accidents are most likely to occur. According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety (2020), most fatal crashes happen between 6 pm and 6 am, injury crashes are more likely between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., and property damage crashes peak between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Time of DayFatal CrashesInjury CrashesProperty Damage Crashes
6 pm—6 amHIGHEST
3 pm—9 pmHIGHEST
9 am—3 pmHIGHEST

Roadway Type

Now, let’s look at the type of roadway the Oklahoma City car accidents occur on.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, in 2018, the majority of car accidents in Oklahoma City happened on major state highways and city streets.

Over 35% of all accidents occurred on major state highways, while over 28% occurred on city streets.

Interstates, US Highways, and county roads combined accounted for an additional 26% of all accidents.

In addition, over 8% of all car accidents occurred on other roadways, such as private roads and parking lots.

This data indicates that most car accidents in Oklahoma City happen on the most traveled roads.

Vehicle Type

You must consider the type of vehicle you are driving when navigating Oklahoma roads, as certain vehicles are more capable of handling inclement weather conditions than others. According to the Oklahoma City Car Accident Statistics from 2015 to 2019, passenger vehicles such as cars, vans, and SUVs accounted for the majority of car accidents, with a total of 44,847, making up nearly two-thirds of all car accident incidents. Although pickup trucks and motorcycles accounted for significantly fewer car accidents, motorcyclists were disproportionately affected by fatalities.

Vehicle TypeNumber of Car Accidents
Passenger Vehicles44,847
Pickup Trucks12,965
Motorcycles2,777
Bicycles672
Other514

Drunk Driving

Alcohol-impaired driving continues to be a major cause of collisions, with thousands of incidents yearly. In Oklahoma City alone, drunk driving collisions have increased despite efforts to curb the problem.

The following is a breakdown of those collisions:

  • By Vehicle Type:
  • Cars: Over 1,000 collisions in the past year alone
  • Trucks: Over 500 collisions in the past year alone
  • Motorcycles: Over 300 collisions in the past year alone
  • By Location:
  • Intersections: Over 600 collisions in the past year alone
  • Non-Intersections: Over 900 collisions in the past year alone
  • By Gender:
  • Male: Over 800 collisions in the past year alone
  • Female: Over 400 collisions in the past year alone

These figures demonstrate the large scope of the issue and the need for increased awareness and prevention. All drivers must take steps to avoid drinking and driving, as the consequences can be catastrophic.

Driver Distractions

Avoiding distractions while driving is as important as not drinking and driving, as even a moment’s inattention can have devastating results.

According to the Oklahoma Department of Safety, in 2017, there were 11,698 motor vehicle crashes in Oklahoma City. Of these crashes, 5,898 were caused by driver distraction. This accounts for a large portion of the crashes taking place in the city, with driver inattention ranking second only to speeding-related crashes.

Driver distraction is a serious issue on Oklahoma City roads and highways. The Oklahoma Department of Safety recommends that drivers avoid all distractions while behind the wheel, including using a cell phone, engaging in conversations, or even eating.

By following these simple precautions, drivers can help reduce the number of car accidents caused by driver distraction in Oklahoma City.

Fact-Checked

This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Clayton T. Hasbrook who has years of legal experience as a personal injury lawyer. Our last modified date shows when this page was last reviewed.