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Traffic collisions in West Virginia more likely in October data shows

Oakwood Bridge in Charleston, W.Va. (Photo via West Virginia Department of Transportation)

While summer months are expected to produce higher numbers of motor vehicle collisions, this isn’t entirely the case in West Virginia.

In 2018 and 2019, October saw the highest number of collisions compared to any other month of year, including August—often recognized as one of the most dangerous months on the road.

Based on crash data provided by the West Virginia Division of Highways, October had over 700 more collisions than August, the second-highest month.

With the exception of October, months experiencing high traffic volume yielded more traffic collisions in West Virginia than those less traveled.

Based on this trend, crashes in state are more likely to occur during months with high travel like August when the bulk of summer travelers are returning from vacation.

Holidays traditionally produce higher traffic volume as well, which may suggest why November and December experienced a higher numbers of crashes—the Sunday after Thanksgiving is one the busiest travel days of the year.

When comparing the month of October for both years, the number of collisions per day followed a similar trend. In both years, Oct. 26 experienced the highest number of traffic collisions before seeing a sharp decline in the remainder of the month.

Multi-car collisions follow similar trend

In addition to having the most crashes out of any given month of the year, October had the most drivers involved in collisions, based on driver data provided by the West Virginia Division of Highways.

For the most part, multi-car collisions followed a similar trend to total collisions, meaning months experiencing higher numbers of collisions are also likely to see an increase in the number of drivers involved in those collisions.

But while April saw the lowest number of total collisions in both years, February had the lowest number drivers involved in collisions.

Again, October yields unusual results. Not only are crashes more likely in October, based on the data, the month is likely to have a higher number of drivers involved in those accidents.

When considering the month of October as a whole, the trend between the total number of collisions per day is almost identical to the number of multi-car collisions by day in 2018, the year with the higher number of collisions.

Once again, at 299 drivers, Oct. 26 experienced peak numbers compared to other days.

How do out-of-state drivers factor in?

When comparing in-state and out-of-state drivers in West Virginia in 2019, the summer months saw an increase in collisions involving out-of-state drivers.

Based on the numbers from 2019, West Virginians can expect a higher proportion of out-of-state drivers in June and July. Over a quarter of drivers involved in collisions in July alone were from out of state.

As expected, in-state drivers still make up a vast majority of traffic collisions throughout the year, while those from out of state make up less than a quarter of those collisions. This is likely due to the higher proportion of in-state drivers on the road compared to out-of-state drivers at any given time in West Virginia.

While February had the least amount of drivers involved in crashes, Feb. 1 saw the highest number of out-of-drivers compared to any other day in 2019. Christmas day, on the other hand, experienced the lowest number of out-of-state drivers in crashes.

When looking at the data, it seems that traffic collisions in West Virginia are more likely to occur during months of high travel, particularly October. West Virginia residents can expect a similar trend in the coming years.

Methods

All data was collected from the Traffic Engineering Division of the West Virginia Department of Highways on March 22, 2021. The data set contains two tables—one containing drivers and one containing crashes—for both 2018 and 2019.

Pivot tables and string functions were used to determine the number of crashes by month and by day.

To determine whether out-of-state drivers or in-state drivers were involved in crashes, the IF function was used to test the truth value of the statement “WV.” The issuing state for each driver was provided in the given data. From there, the percentage of out-of-state drivers compared to in-state drivers was calculated.

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Project 3: Video Profile

Some people have hobbies, but for Kurt Teeter, pottery is a passion and a lifestyle. In this video, Teeter, owner of Zenclay, discusses how pottery plays an important role in both his and his customers’ lives. According to the artist, his studio serves as an escape from the demands of everyday life. Teeter took over the studio from Sue Ting, the founder of Zenclay, nearly seven years ago, with a mission to educate and enlighten others about the world of pottery.

The video opens up with a four-shot sequence of Teeter preparing pots for glazing. In addition to his discussion of pottery and its importance in his life, there is a visual narrative as well. The video both begins and ends with shots of Teeter’s “bird pots.” I included sequences of his students working as well. Overall, I tried to provide b-roll to visually emphasize Teeter’s narrative.

Project 1 – Photo Story

  • Stephanie Swaim, owner and operator of Hoot and Howl, stands in her storefront in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Swaim first opened her artisan shop to the public back in 2008. Her goal then and now is to showcase the work of over 120 West Virginia and American made artisans and small businesses.
  • A sign outside of Hoot and Howl reads “shop online anytime” in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Swaim began to question how she could continue to support local artisans after West Virginia Governor Jim Justice issued an executive order mandating quarantine. According to Swaim, she immediately transitioned to an online format in hope to continue business.
  • Swaim speaks to a customer as she makes a purchase in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. After opening back up to the public, Swaim began to establish in-person connections again, which she believes are important for small business owners.
  • Swaim stocks shelves in her store with cards made by local artisans in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. According to the business owner, many artists, including herself, faced creative challenges in light of the pandemic. Swaim noted many artists are beginning to create again and her store offers resources to for creators in need.
  • Swaim checks inventory on her laptop at Hoot and Howl in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020. Customers now have the option to shop in-store, order online or request an in-store pickup. Swaim hopes to remain open for the remainder of the pandemic.

Portrait and Candid Photos

  • Caroline Murphy, a West Virginia University sophomore, works on a graphic design piece at her apartment on Monday, Sept. 28, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Murphy studied graphic design at the WVU College of Creative Arts.
  • Caroline Murphy, a WVU sophomore, gazes out a window at Vandalia Apartments on Monday, Sept. 28, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Murphy recently won a design competition for FestivALL, an arts organization based in Charleston, West Virginia.
  • West Virginia State Delegate Danielle Walker embraces Lhawa, a West Virginia University freshman, after the march for Breonna Taylor on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Solidarity for Equality and Compassion, a nonprofit organization based in Morgantown, organized the event in light of the recent court ruling.
  • Sam Norris, protest organizer and founder of Solidarity for Equality and Compassion, speaks to local residents gathered for a march for Breonna Taylor on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Norris brought water, masks, sign making materials and first aid kits to ensure safety for participants.

West Virginia Delegate Danielle Walker was one of many state residents who participated in the march for Breonna Taylor on Saturday, Sept. 26, in Morgantown West Virginia. Walker spoke out about systematic racism in the state and the nation as a whole.

Walker is running for the West Virginia House of Delegates Dist. 51 in the upcoming November election. She has served as the lead sponsor of 13 bills, including an education bill related to the anti hazing law.

Earlier this month, Walker wrote a letter to West Virginia Governor Jim Justice stating she was harassed by an “angry mob of white supremacists.” This letter refers to a recent BLM protest in Kingwood, West Virginia, on Sept. 12.

Data Journalism in the Eyes of Michael Blastland

I recently read Michael Blastland’s “Tips for Working with Numbers in the News.” According to Blastland, data journalism can be overwhelming at first glance, but it should be treated like any other form of journalism. One should stay vigilant and enjoy the research and writing process. Likewise, Blastland notes that open-mindedness is key to producing a good story and that one should think about what the data represents – how can numbers tell a story. Just as a good photo or video can tell a story, a coherent set of data can be powerful in its own way.

I’ve learned quite a bit from Blastland’s writing, and I have just scratched the surface of data journalism. First, I learned to let the data speak for you, rather than forcing it to work. Data visualizations won’t be efficient in every story, but when they are, they can be powerful at conveying a specific idea or concept. Secondly, be skeptical, not critical. I learned that when approaching data, I should be observant. Most importantly, I learned that I should treat data journalism the same was I treat any form of the discipline, being alert and pragmatic.