How much does a crash cost our society?

Crash on Reserve just north of Mullan Road (AI was used to remove the people from the original photo)

When you hear about a car crash on the news, it’s easy to think of it as a tragic but isolated event. We feel a moment of sympathy for those involved, but we often don’t realize the ripple effect that spreads far beyond the scene of the crash. In Missoula, our roads are more than just a way to get from one place to another; they are the lifelines of our community, connecting our homes, schools, and businesses. That’s why the work of Drive Safe Missoula is so important to all of us.

You might be asking, "What's in it for me?" The answer is that the cost of traffic crashes affects every single person in our community, even if we are never directly involved in one. For example, the above crash closed down one northbound lane of Reserve Street at Mullan Road during the 5 p.m. rush hour. This photo was taken at 5:06 p.m. How far do you think traffic was backed up? What do you thing the collective fuel cost of all those cars inching toward the area for almost an hour? For any employees on the clock who were stuck in the traffic jam, how much did local employers spend on non-productive work hours? What was the cost to pay for the law enforcement and other emergency responders to get to the scene to check on the people involved? This may have been a non-injury crash or even a minor injury crash, but what do you think the overall societal cost of this crash was and still is?

Here's why I'm asking. I recently attended an online training with the State of Idaho. During that training they assigned numbers to the types of vehicle crashes. Now, Missoula is essentially right next door so lets assume that our numbers wouldn't really be all that much different. This is what they assigned the different crash types:

• Property Damage Only (PDO) = 1.0

• Possible Injury Crash = 19.7

• Suspected Minor Injury Crash = 38.7

• Suspected Serious Injury Crash = 141.9

• Fatal Crash = 2,967.8

That means that the societal cost of of a possible injury crash is 19.7 times greater than a Property Damage Only crash and a Fatal Crash is 2,967.8 times more costly to our society than a Property Damage Only crash. To put it another way, it would take 2,967.8 Property Damage Only crashes to equal the cost of one fatal crash. With the total understanding that a human life is priceless and this isn't trying to put a value on life itself, just the overall cost to our society in general that results from the preventable loss of life. Let that sink in for a minute.

Helena 2022 - Ironic photo taken from outside the Delta Hotel, during a break, at the Annual Montana Highway Traffic Safety Meeting.

Consider this: The NHTSA's 2019 report places the average discounted lifetime societal cost of a single fatality at $11.3 million, a figure that includes both economic costs and non-economic valuations of human well-being. This isn't just a number assigned to a life (because we know that is priceless), but a calculation that includes everything from the initial on scene response to lost productivity, medical expenses and so much more. Naturally to cost of pain and suffering is immeasurable.

What's eye-opening is that roughly three-quarters of these costs (i.e., medical expenses, property damage, legal & administrative costs, congestion costs, & higher insurance premiums) are paid for by people not directly involved in the crash.  When our community suffers a crash, we all share in the financial and emotional burden.

This shared cost hits close to home. Here in Missoula, our local police department responds to approximately 1,800 crashes every year. While Montana as a whole faces a traffic fatality rate that is well above the national average, our community is stepping up to address this challenge together.

Crash on Northbound Reserve just south of South Ave.

Putting a Number on Crash Costs: The Idaho Model

The average economic cost of a PDO crash in Idaho is estimated at $3,722. By comparison, crashes with injuries carry much higher costs:

• Possible Injury: $73,323

• Suspected Minor Injury: $143,041

• Suspected Serious Injury: $527,407

• Fatal Crash: $11,043,472

These numbers highlight a powerful truth: even a crash with "just" property damage carries a significant financial weight on our communities, and the costs escalate dramatically with each increase in injury severity. These figures are the foundation for the "Equivalent to Property Damage Only" (ePDO) ratios, providing a clear way to compare the total impact of different crash types.

The good news is that we are a community that looks out for one another. Simple, safe habits on the road can have a tremendous positive impact on our collective well-being. For instance, increasing seat belt use by just 10% in Montana is estimated to save Montanans over $22.5 million in healthcare costs annually.  This isn't about shaming anyone; it's about a shared understanding that every time we buckle up, we are contributing to the safety and financial health of our community. At last count, 95.6% of Missoulian's were wearing their seat belts.

This is where the work of organizations like Drive Safe Missoula comes in.

Our efforts to keep people wearing seat belts, properly using car seats and promoting sober driving are a direct investment in the safety and future of our community.

By focusing on public education we are actively working to reduce the financial and personal toll of crashes. It's a team effort that helps ensure our roads are safer for our children on their way to school, for our neighbors commuting to work, and for everyone who calls this beautiful place home.

Crash at Mullan and Cote.

You are a critical part of this solution.

By looking out for our friends and family to make sure everyone has a sober ride or speaking up as a passenger when you notice a driver is speeding, driving distracted or drowsy. And, naturally making sure all occupants are properly buckled up, keeps us all safer.

Also, local law enforcement recognizes that citizens are the "eyes and ears" of the community. If you notice a traffic concern, whether it's an intersection that needs attention or a spot with consistent speeding, you have the power to help make a difference. By reporting these issues, you are contributing to a community-wide effort to identify and improve high-risk areas.

Thank you for continuing to show that Missoula is a community that cares—not just for our own well-being, but for the well-being of every person on our roads. It's an investment in a safer, stronger, and more connected future for all of us.