The Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT) recently issued its annual report on car crashes. The study found that there were 16,648 car accidents in Charlotte in the last year. This is the lowest number of reported collisions in Charlotte since 2000.
The study found the rate of pedestrian related crashes to remain relatively steady with 4.3 crashes per 10,000 people living in Charlotte, compared to 4.6 crashes per 10,000 people in 2000. The rate of bike wrecks, however, declined from 2.13 bicycle crashes per 10,000 population in 2000, down to 1.2 crashes per 10,000 population in 2009.
City officials were unable to identify a reason for the decline in Charlotte, North Carolina car accidents. It is interesting to note, however, that the study was based on the number of crashes as compared to population, rather than the number of crashes compared to actual miles driven. In other words, the study does not take into consideration whether, assuming the same population, people are driving less than in previous studies.
Regardless of the reason for the decline in Charlotte, North Carolina car accidents, the trend in Charlotte mirrors the trend in the rest of North Carolina, as well as the rest of the United States.