459 CRASHES IN
MONTGOMERY, MD
MAY 2020

During this period, 2 motorists were killed and 132 were injured in crashes. No fatalities were recorded among pedestrians or cyclists. However, 13 pedestrians and 7 cyclists sustained injuries in collisions.

Crash frequency in Montgomery County peaked on Fridays, which saw 110 incidents, significantly more than any other day of the week. The single most hazardous time of day was the 5 PM hour with 36 crashes, part of a broader afternoon peak from 2 PM to 5 PM. The majority of crashes, 325 out of 459, occurred during daylight hours.

The majority of crashes in May 2020 resulted in no injuries, with 321 incidents (69.9%) classified as property-damage-only. Crashes involving some level of injury (possible, minor, or serious) accounted for 133 incidents. There were 2 fatal crashes recorded during this period, which resulted in 2 fatalities.

The leading contributing factors cited in crash reports were predominantly environmental. Wet road conditions, whether from rain or other sources, were a factor in the top two categories, accounting for a combined 50 incidents. The factor 'RAIN, SNOW, WET' was listed in 26 crashes, while 'N/A, WET' was noted in 24 crashes.

The majority of incidents occurred in favorable environments, with over two-thirds of crashes happening in clear weather (314 incidents) and on dry road surfaces (306 incidents). A total of 325 crashes (70.8%) occurred during daylight hours. Adverse conditions were still a factor, with 57 crashes occurring in rain and 71 on wet roads.

Analysis of the 756 vehicles involved in crashes shows a prevalence of common passenger vehicle makes. Toyota was the most frequently involved make with 119 vehicles recorded in collisions. This was followed by Ford with 83 vehicles and Honda with 80 vehicles.

In incidents where fault was assigned, drivers were determined to be the at-fault party in 427 cases. Non-motorists were found to be at fault in 7 cases.

Among crashes occurring at intersections with a defined geometry, four-way intersections were the most common location, accounting for 126 incidents. T-intersections were the site of the next largest group of crashes, with 62 incidents reported.

Crashes were most frequently located at intersections, with 130 incidents occurring directly within a junction and an additional 50 classified as intersection-related. Crashes on non-intersection roadway segments were also common, accounting for 111 incidents.

The most common road configuration at crash sites was a two-way, divided roadway with a positive median barrier, which was the location for 171 crashes. The second most frequent road type was a two-way, undivided road, accounting for 134 crashes.

Disabling damage was the most frequently reported level of vehicle damage, noted for 303 vehicles involved in crashes. Functional damage was reported for 176 vehicles, while 191 vehicles sustained only superficial damage. A smaller number of vehicles, 36, were reported as destroyed.

Among drivers for whom a distraction was noted, 'looked but did not see' was the most common issue, cited in 90 instances. General inattentiveness or being 'lost in thought' was reported for 30 drivers. Other specified distractions included cellular phone use, which was cited in 7 instances, and distractions from outside the vehicle, noted in 6 cases.

The first harmful event in the majority of crashes was a collision with another moving vehicle, which occurred in 261 incidents (56.9%). The second most common event was striking a fixed object, such as a guardrail or utility pole, which accounted for 83 crashes. Collisions with parked vehicles were the third most frequent initial event, with 57 instances.

The most common point of impact on vehicles involved in collisions was the front, designated as 'Twelve Oclock,' which was reported for 321 vehicles. The second most frequent impact point was the rear ('Six Oclock'), accounting for 147 vehicles. These front and rear impacts are often associated with angle and rear-end collisions.

Prior to the collisions, the most common driver action was 'moving at a constant speed,' reported for 336 vehicles. The next most frequent pre-crash actions were 'slowing or stopping' (87 vehicles) and being 'stopped in a traffic lane' (72 vehicles).

Among incidents involving pedestrians, 'no improper actions' was the most frequent assessment, noted in 11 cases. Other cited pedestrian actions included 'dart dash' (3 cases), 'inattentive' (2 cases), and 'in roadway improperly' (1 case).

The most common crash types were single-vehicle incidents, accounting for 110 crashes (24.0%), and rear-end collisions involving vehicles traveling in the same direction, with 102 crashes (22.2%). Angle collisions during straight movements were the third most frequent type, with 71 incidents.

Nearly half of all crashes (224 incidents, 48.8%) occurred at locations with no traffic controls present. Where traffic controls were a factor, traffic signals were the most common, present at the scene of 121 crashes. An additional 30 crashes occurred at intersections controlled by a stop sign.

Passenger cars were the predominant vehicle type involved in crashes, accounting for 548 of the 756 vehicles (72.5%). Sport utility vehicles (50) and pickup trucks (34) were the next most common types. Various commercial vehicles, including cargo vans, buses, and heavy trucks, were involved in at least 32 of the incidents.

Of the 782 people involved in crashes, the vast majority (624) reported no injuries. A total of 12 individuals, or 1.5% of all persons involved, sustained fatal (2) or suspected serious (10) injuries. An additional 146 people experienced minor or possible injuries.

The most common collision involved two vehicles, which occurred in 242 out of 459 crashes. Single-vehicle crashes were also frequent, accounting for 187 incidents (40.7%). Most other incidents involved three or four vehicles, with one crash involving six vehicles.