Lea County Report, 2006
Demographics
In 2006, there were 39,683 licensed drivers in Lea County. Of these, there were 19,697 females and
19,986 males. The population in Lea County was 57,312. The total number of crashes in 2006 was
1,486, yielding a crash rate of 26 per thousand people (the total number of crashes 1,486 divided by
the population 57,312 multiplied by 1,000). The corresponding rate for the state was 25 per
thousand people.
General Crash Information
Since 1997 the number of crashes has shown no consistent pattern. Fatal and injury crashes have
also shown no consistent pattern since 1997. Belt usage (as a percentage) has decreased from last
year, while belt usage in crashes involving visible and incapacitating injuries has increased.
Alcohol-related Crash Information
Information about alcohol-involved crashes is included in all sections of this report. Of the 181
people convicted of DWI in Lea County in 2006, 66 percent were first-time DWI convictions (number
of first convictions 120 divided by the total number of people convicted 181 multiplied by 100). The
corresponding percentage for the state was 68.
Crash Specifics
Crashes involving other vehicles were the most common crash class accounting for 65 percent of all
crashes. Crashes involving overturns and other vehicles were the most common crash classes which
resulted in fatalities. Passenger cars were the vehicle type most often involved in crashes,
accounting for 43 percent of all vehicles in crashes. Pickups accounted for 30 percent of vehicles
involved in crashes. Together these two vehicle types comprised 74 percent of the vehicles involved
in injury crashes. The three most common top contributing factors were driver inattention, failing to
yield, and following too close. There were 22 fatal crashes in 2006. The most common top
contributing factors for the fatal crashes were excessive speed and alcohol involvement.
People in Crashes
Overall, males were 57 percent of drivers in crashes, although they account for only 50 percent of
licensed drivers in Lea County. There were 11 pedestrians involved in crashes. In 2006, two
‘teenagers’ and one young adult were killed in crashes in Lea County. Statewide 16 percent of
alcohol-involved drivers were under 21; in Lea County 22 percent were under 21.
Note: The 1999 crash file contains 15% fewer crashes than the 1998 file. This may be due to
problems implementing the new system after the old system failed, or to under reporting. Care
should be used in interpreting differences between 1999 and other years in this report.
#
Location of arrest/conviction was determined by police agency/court location, not driver residence.
#
Crashes and drivers were counted by the city of occurrence/residence.
#
Population was counted according to the Census definition, using 2006 estimates.
#
Young adults are people between the ages of 20 and 24.
#
‘Teenagers’ are people between the ages of 15 and 19.
#
Tables only include variable values for which there are data.
Traffic Safety Bureau
1
Under Contract #C04950
Passenger Vehicle Seatbelt Usage and Injuries in Lea County, 2004-2006
2006
Total
Injury Level
Killed
Incapacitating injury
Visible injury
Complaint of injury
2005
No Belt
Total
2004
No Belt
Total
No Belt
8
3
8
5
0
0
53
7
68
12
0
0
147
15
126
14
0
0
327
9
357
13
0
0
Unhurt
2,416
55
2,599
19
0
0
Total
2,951
89
3,158
63
0
0
Lifetime DWI Convictions for Drivers
Convicted of DWI Violations in Lea County, 2006
Convictions
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10 or more
Total
Since 2002
148
28
5
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
181
Traffic Safety Bureau
Since 1982
120
41
14
5
1
0
0
0
0
0
181
Convictions are counts of people
convicted of DWI by 7/2007 for violations
in 2006 in Lea County.
Convictions are not comparable to arrests.
2
Under Contract #C04950
Crashes in Lea County by Class, 2006
Class
Other vehicle
Pedestrian
Fixed object
Veh. on other roadway
Parked vehicle
Overturn
Other non-collision
Pedalcyclist
Animal
Other object
Total
Total
966
9
191
1
152
87
15
15
45
5
1,486
% of Total
65
1
13
0
10
6
1
1
3
0
100
Crashes
Fatal
% of Fatal
8
36
1
5
2
9
0
0
0
0
11
50
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
22
100
Injury
252
7
40
1
13
42
5
11
6
1
378
People
Killed
Injured
11
410
1
10
2
45
0
1
0
15
12
75
0
5
0
11
0
6
0
1
26
579
Crashes in Lea County by Vehicle Type, 2006
Vehicle Type
Passenger car
Pickup
Semi
Bus
Motorcycle
Pedalcyclist
Pedestrian
Van/4 WD
Other
Unknown
Total
Total
1,180
830
88
4
32
15
11
407
44
117
2,728
Traffic Safety Bureau
% of Total
43
30
3
0
1
1
0
15
2
4
100
Vehicles
Fatal
6
8
7
0
4
0
1
6
0
0
32
3
% of Fatal
19
25
22
0
13
0
3
19
0
0
100
Injury
306
217
19
1
22
11
9
103
9
9
706
Killed
7
8
2
0
4
0
1
4
0
0
26
People
Injured
264
158
14
2
23
11
9
87
7
4
579
Under Contract #C04950
Crashes in Lea County by Top Contributing Factor, 2006
Total
65
102
270
128
23
221
87
20
116
45
288
2
119
1,486
Contributing Factor
Alcohol involvement
Red light running
Failing to yield
Excessive speed
Driving left of center
Following too close
Improper turning
Improper overtaking
Improper backing
Mechanical defect
Driver inattention
Improper driving
Other
Total
% of Total
4
7
18
9
2
15
6
1
8
3
19
0
8
100
Crashes
Fatal
5
1
3
9
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
22
% of Fatal
23
5
14
41
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
5
0
100
Injury
28
44
79
53
6
49
13
6
3
10
57
0
30
378
Killed
6
1
4
11
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
26
People
Injured
46
73
127
91
11
74
18
7
3
15
74
1
39
579
People in Crashes by Age and Sex in Lea County, 2006
Female
Male
111
53
52
82
72
106
130
108
163
219
275
65
80
94
138
41
72
90
122
117
111
142
201
257
362
73
65
91
Over 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5-9
Under 5
1,610
1,882
Total
360
Traffic Safety Bureau
240
120
120
4
240
360
Under Contract #C04950
People in Alcohol-Involved Crashes in Lea County, 2006
by Age and Sex
Female
Male
2
2
2
2
1
6
9
1
5
4
2
2
1
2
Over 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5-9
Under 5
4
2
2
6
1
9
8
8
17
23
13
5
5
3
41
Total
106
24
16
8
8
16
24
Drivers in Crashes by Age and Sex in Lea County, 2006
Female
71
32
41
61
55
79
107
97
135
169
153
4
Male
126
35
63
78
107
100
96
104
160
192
246
4
Over 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
Under 15
1,004
1,311
Total
250
125
125
250
Alcohol-Involved Drivers in Crashes in Lea County, 2006
by Age and Sex
Female
Male
0
1
0
1
1
2
2
1
1
2
2
0
Over 64
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
Under 15
0
0
0
5
0
7
5
5
7
14
7
0
2
13
Under 21
Total
12
50
14
Traffic Safety Bureau
7
7
5
14
Under Contract #C04950
'Teenagers' and Young Adults in Crashes in Lea County by Vehicle Type, 2006
Total
232
114
1
9
2
3
37
0
8
406
Vehicle
Passenger car
Pickup
Semi
Motorcycle
Pedalcyclist
Pedestrian
Van/4 WD
Other
Unknown
Total
'Teenage' Drivers
Fatal
Injury
0
46
2
32
0
0
0
8
0
0
0
3
0
15
0
0
0
4
2
108
Young Adult Drivers
Total
Fatal
Injury
198
1
61
92
2
24
5
0
0
5
0
5
1
0
0
1
0
0
54
1
10
4
0
2
3
0
1
363
4
103
'Teenagers' and Young Adults in Crashes in Lea County, 1997-2006
Year
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
'Teenagers'
All Crashes
Alcohol Crashes
Killed
Injured
Killed
Injured
2
93
1
3
3
112
1
8
3
122
2
12
2
97
1
2
3
104
3
7
0
127
0
21
3
135
2
20
3
124
2
18
1
156
0
11
0
160
0
22
Traffic Safety Bureau
6
Young Adults
All Crashes
Alcohol Crashes
Killed
Injured
Killed
Injured
1
96
0
10
2
97
0
13
1
104
1
10
1
79
1
14
0
65
0
8
3
95
2
16
0
73
0
10
0
51
0
8
1
66
0
5
1
96
1
13
Under Contract #C04950