Study lauds Alleghany roadways

Drivers in Alleghany County had the best chance of surviving an automobile accident in 2003 as compared to other counties in the state, according to a recent study by AAA Carolinas.

The study was based on fatal accidents — none of which were reported in 2003 inside the county’s limits — per mile driven by motorists.

The eighth-annual study is based on the number of collisions, deaths and injuries per mile traveled in each county and shows where motorists have the greatest — and least — chances of being in a crash, being injured, or killed.

The top five counties in each division were listed. For best chance of surviving an auto accident, the other four to counties in order were Camden, Mitchell, Yancey and Swain. None of the top counties had any fatalities for the year 2003. Swain County motorists were listed as having the best chance of not being a collision at all, while Camden motorists were listed as having the best chance of not being injured in an accident.

Alleghany’s neighboring counties of Ashe, Surry and Wilkes each reported fatal accidents. Ashe had three, Surry had 21 and Wilkes had 11 fatal collisions in 2003. With 100 being the safest in this aspect of the study, Ashe ranks 79, while Wilkes ranks 62 and Surry ranks 30.

Other Data

Alleghany County had a total of 234 reported collisions, 145 of which involved only property damage. The county was ranked No. 25 for property damage only collisions in consideration of vehicle miles traveled here.

Meanwhile, Alleghany had 89 collisions involving injuries during the year, the report said. That figure shows Alleghany ranking No. 26 out of the state’s 100 counties.

A total of 131 people were listed as injured in accidents here, giving the county a 43rd ranking in the state.

Ashe County had 524 total collisions, of which 359 involved only property damage. That gave Ashe a ranking of 44th in that statistic. Ashe also had 162 injury collisions and 240 total injuries, which carried rankings of 80 and 83, respectively.

Surry County had a total of 1,864 accidents, of which 1,199 were involving only property damage. That figure related to a ranking of 59th in the state, with consideration given to vehicle miles traveled. Surry also 644 wrecks involving injuries with a total of 1,025 people listed as injured. Those figures gave Surry of 75th and 73rd, respectively, for injury wrecks and total injuries.

In Wilkes County, 1,832 total accidents were reported, of which 1,123 involved only property damage. That gave Wilkes a ranking of 21st for that statistic. Wilkes also had 698 wrecks with injuries, in which 1,063 people were hurt. That gave Wilkes a ranking of 20th and 32nd for those two statistics, with weight given to vehicle miles traveled.

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