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Topic: BY THE NUMBERS
Decline in Traffic Deaths
July 9, 2009
The number of traffic deaths in the U.S. in 2008 was its lowest since 1961. Here are some of the key numbers from the U.S. Department of Transportation report:
- 37,261 Total reported highway deaths nationwide, down 9.7% (3,998) from 2007
- 25,531 Total number of victims killed in passenger vehicles, i.e., cars and light trucks, as compared to 29,072 in 2007
- 677 Total killed in large trucks (805 in 2007)
- 5,290 Fatalities in which the victim was riding a motorcycle, the only category that increased since 2007 (5,174)
- 4,378 Reported pedestrian deaths (4,699 in 2007)
- 11,773 The number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (13,041 in 2007)
- 1.27 Fatality rate per 100 million Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), as compared to 1.36 persons per 100 million VMT in 2007
- 7,689 Fatalities in the first quarter of 2009, which is also down 9% from a year ago
- 12 Number of consecutive quarters in which total traffic deaths have declined.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Traffic Safety Facts,” June, 2009, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811172.pdf
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Great Information. I am surprised at the data with the increasing amount of cell phone usage and texting, however I have noticed that in all traffic incidents I have witnessed over the last 2 years that all vehicles were newer models(better safety features) and people are buckling up. Last month I was the first responder on the scene of a 5 car pile up on an expressway at 70+ MPH. No one was killed, all 7 people in front seats involved were buckled up. There was one child in the rear of a vehicle not wearing seat belt, but she was not seriously injured. I also think that the median barriers (cable)will reduce fatal collisions significantly on expressways.