Oklahoma Accident Statistics & Insights

Interstate 44 - Oklahoma's Road Safety Initiatives

Recent car accident statistics in Oklahoma indicate that the rates of accidents and traffic fatalities have trended upward over the past few years. Behind each of these statistics is a preventable tragedy. Moreover, the economic costs of a traffic crash in Oklahoma can put a significant strain on injured victims and their families.

Statewide Traffic Accident Statistics

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office (OHSO) reports on the state’s annual number of severe accidents. According to a recent OHSO report, Oklahoma traffic fatalities decreased by 98 deaths in 2022 compared to fatality numbers in 2021. However, another report also noted that fatalities had increased by 14 percent from 2019 to 2022, with the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increasing by 15 percent in that time. Vehicular traffic only increased by 1 percent over that timeframe, mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oklahoma City Specific Accidents Statistics

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in Oklahoma City include:

  • Driver inattention or distracted driving
  • Following too closely/tailgating
  • Failing to yield the right of way
  • Speeding/traveling too fast for conditions
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Driver inexperience
  • Illegal or unsafe turns or lane changes
  • Running red lights/stop signs or disregarding traffic control signals/signs

According to OHSO’s interactive crash map dashboard, Oklahoma City had 1,700 traffic crashes in one recent year that resulted in death or injury. These accidents led to 99 fatalities and 2,096 injuries. Officials classified the injuries resulting from 293 accidents as “serious” and from 1,312 additional accidents as “minor.”

One hundred accidents involved drunk driving in Oklahoma City, and 60 accidents involved at least one driver under the influence of drugs. Officials tallied 203 speeding-related crashes in Oklahoma City and 180 accidents caused by distracted driving.

Two hundred fifty accidents involved a teen driver, and 275 crashes involved a driver 65 or older. Oklahoma City also had 175 hit-and-run accidents, 10 of which involved fatalities and 39 of which led to severe injuries. Fifty-eight crashes occurred in a road work zone.

June had the highest number of accidents, followed closely by July, May, and September.

According to the dashboard, the roads, highways, and intersections in Oklahoma City with some of the highest rates of accidents include:

  • U.S. Highway 62
  • Interstate 40
  • Interstate 44
  • Interstate 35
  • Interstate 240
  • Walker Avenue
  • Western Avenue
  • Southwest 59th Street
  • Penn Avenue
  • May Avenue
  • North Meridian Avenue
  • North MacArthur Avenue
  • Northwest Expressway Street

Young drivers are at an elevated risk of being involved in accidents. OHSO further reports that drivers aged 20 to 24 had the highest rate of involvement in traffic crashes at 12.9 of accidents, followed by drivers aged 25 to 29 at 10.9 percent and drivers aged 15 to 19 and 30 to 34 at 9.8 percent each. Drivers aged 25 to 29 had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes at 10 percent, while drivers aged 20 to 24 had the highest rate of involvement in injury crashes at 13.4 percent.

The report also noted that 461 drivers aged 20 to 24 and 456 drivers aged 25 to 29 involved in accidents appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, the highest rates out of any age group. Fatal crashes in Oklahoma involved male drivers at approximately three times the rate of female drivers, with 784 male drivers involved in fatal crashes compared to 285 female drivers. Male drivers aged 20 to 24 had the highest rate of involvement in fatal crashes, with 87 drivers.

In one recent year, 11,640 teen drivers were involved in car accidents in Oklahoma, 68 of which were fatal. Friday accounted for the highest number of teen drivers involved in accidents, with 2,020. Teens most frequently get into accidents between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The most common reasons for young driver accidents in Oklahoma included:

  • Failing to yield the right of way (16.1 percent of accidents)
  • Inattention/distraction (10.8 percent of accidents)
  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions (10.1 percent of accidents)
  • Following too closely/tailgating (9.5 percent of accidents)
  • Improper movement (5.2 percent of accidents)
  • Improper turns (4 percent of accidents)
  • Unsafe lane changes (3.7 percent of accidents)
  • Running red lights/stop signs (3.6 percent of accidents)

Over 12,000 drivers aged 65 and older got into accidents in Oklahoma in one recent year, including 174 fatal crashes. Older drivers had a slightly higher chance of having an accident on Fridays, although accidents more frequently occurred on weekdays than on weekends. Older drivers more frequently got into accidents between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Top causes of accidents involving older drivers include:

  • Failing to yield the right of way (16.1 percent of accidents)
  • Improper movement (6.7 percent of accidents)
  • Inattention/distraction (5.7 percent of accidents)
  • Improper turns (5.6 percent of accidents)
  • Unsafe lane changes (4.9 percent of accidents)
  • Following too closely/tailgating (3.5 percent of accidents)
  • Speeding or driving too fast for conditions (3.4 percent of accidents)
  • Running red lights or stop signs (3.3 percent of accidents)

Economic and Quality-of-Life Costs

According to the transportation research non-profit organization TRIP, traffic accidents in Oklahoma resulting in fatalities or serious injuries caused economic losses of $18 billion in one recent year alone. These economic losses include tangible costs such as medical care, lost productivity/wages, property repair/replacement, administrative costs for insurance companies, and legal expenses.

However, traffic crash economic costs for Oklahoma also include losses of quality of life, including physical pain, emotional trauma/distress, prolonged or permanent physical disabilities, permanent disfigurement, and reduced life expectancy.

Contact Cain Law for Legal Support for Traffic Victims

The consequences of a car accident are often devastating. Severe injuries and fatalities can cause significant financial and personal losses for victims and their families. At Cain Law, we’re proud to provide legal support for traffic victims, helping them get the money they need to put their lives back on track. If you’ve been hurt in a car crash in Oklahoma, contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation to speak with a car accident attorney about your options.