Probability of being in an automobile Accident

1. In 1995 the number of vehicle miles observed was estimated to be 242,282,300 miles [2]. The total number of fatalities was observed to be 41,817. What is the estimated probability of being killed in an automobile accident in 1995?

p (death/mile 1995) = 41,817 / 242,282,300 = .000173 or about .02%.

2. In 2003, 42,028 deaths were observed over 289,089,300 vehicle miles driven [2]. What is the probability of being killed in an auto accident in 2003?

p (death/mile 2003) = 42,028 / 289,089,300 = .000145 or about .01%.

This information was taken from:

The Role of Probability Theory in Systems Analysis (SA)
Stanley Schuyler, 16 August, 2005
---> users.edinboro.edu/sschuyler/