Recently the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released the numbers for traffic injuries and fatalities in 2010. The 32,885 highway deaths in 2010 are actually the lowest number of deaths attributed to car and truck accidents since 1949. Additionally, statistical projection of traffic-related fatalities for the first nine months of 2011 shows approximately 24,050 people were killed in wrecks - a decrease of about 1.6 percent compared to the estimated 24,437 deaths that occurring in the first nine months of 2010.
This may be surprising, especially considering that U.S. drivers drove nearly 46 billion more miles in 2010 than in 2009. So why did 2010 have the lowest traffic fatality rate ever? Even drunk driving deaths dropped by 4.9%.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood attributes the lower numbers to the hard work of safety agencies like the NHTSA and other groups dedicated to educating that public about safe driving. “We’re saving lives, reducing injuries, and building the foundation for what we hope will be even greater success in the future,” LaHood said.
However, not all of the numbers dropped. Fatalities actually increased for
pedestrians, motorcycle riders, and drivers of large trucks. This only emphasizes the need for further educational efforts to increase awareness and promote safe driving habits.
With growing awareness of the problem of distracted driving, the NHTSA also refined the methods of data collection for identifying distracted driving crash statistics. This will allow even better research on how to effectively decrease the amount of accidents caused by distracted drivers.
Ty Wilson is a Conyers accident lawyer and Savannah car wreck lawyer who is proud to provide the public with FREE information about Georgia car accidents and buying car insurance in Georgia. Visit
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Category: Car Accidents
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