Pursuit Facts & Statistics

Statistics = Numbers: It's not about numbers; it's about people

Deaths .....Collision Factors ..... Why they run? ..... Siren Factors .... .Myths.. .. Research

  • It is estimated there are about 70,000 chases each year in the United States. However, there is no national database to provide this information. Statistics are gleaned from various sources, including those states that do require reporting.
  • Pursuits are the most dangerous police tactic, killing more innocent bystanders than a bullet from an officer's firearm.
  • Police chases have killed more than 3,000 innocent bystanders since 1982. These figures from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are low because reporting is not mandatory, i.e., law enforcement agencies are not required to report the deaths to NHTSA. Also, there is no independent overview of the reports submitted to NHTSA.

Deaths

NHTSA's most current report (2006) reveals that the number of people killed by pursuit was the highest in history. On average, police chases killed three innocent bystanders each week in the United States. (The 2007 report will be available in about four months.) To view NHTSA reports from 1982-2006, click here (pdf).

  • Pursuit fatalities climbed to a reported 404 deaths in 2006. That's more than one person a day!
  • Of the 404 deaths, 133 were third parties, either pedestrians or occupants of another car. This figure does not include children or passengers who were in the fleeing car and were killed.
  • California leads the nation with 50 pursuit deaths.
  • Texas trails California with 39 deaths and next is Arizona with 28 deaths.
  • Figures do not include the estimated additional 25 percent that are undocumented because reporting is not mandatory.

Collision Factors

  • Forty percent (40%) of all police car chase cases end in a collision.
  • Twenty percent (20%) of those cases end in serious injury.
  • One percent (1%) result in a death.
  • In 2006, police chases, on average, killed three innocent bystanders each week.
  • Once every eleven weeks a police officer is killed in such a collision.


Why they run?

The percentages do not add up to 100% because some suspects answered more than one category when they were interviewed by Dr. Geoffrey Alpert.

  • 20% were afraid they would be beaten.
  • 32% were driving stolen vehicles
    (The No. 1 reason innocent people are killed. A stolen car is insured and can be replaced.)
  • 17% had drugs in their possession.
  • 46% were impaired by drugs or alcohol.
  • 16.25% were involved in serious criminal activity.

Source: Dr. Geoffrey Alpert did this extensive study for the U.S. Department of Justice. Statistics are more than 10 years old, but law enforcement agencies still use these statistics.

 

Siren Factors

  • Only 26% of drivers can determine from which direction a police car and its siren are traveling.
  • In the case of excessive speeds, some drivers won’t hear the siren at all because they are just behind or catching up to the sound.