In an age where automotive safety devices are as sophisticated as they've ever been, some unpleasant things have occurred on United States highways in 2012. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic fatalities in the first quarter of 2012 leaped an astonishing 13.5 percent, to the highest fatality rate since 2008. Sources suggest this is the second-largest quarterly boost in U.S. traffic fatalities since the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has kept track of such quarterly statistics, starting in 1975.
Largest spike in traffic fatalities since 1979
Since 1975, the NHTSA has been monitoring traffic deaths. It showed an enormous increase from 2011 to 2012; in fact, the increase was the biggest one seen in traffic deaths since 1979. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration was very surprised to see the increase because traffic deaths have been decreasing for a while. The Detroit News points out that in the first quarter of 2011, the traffic fatality rate was 0.98 per 100 million miles logged. That increased to 1.10 deaths per 100 million miles in the first quarter of 2012.
For the last seven years, there has been a steady decrease in U.S. road fatalities, but 2012 is stopping that number. In the first quarter of 2011, there were 6,720 deaths in crashes. That number increased to 7,630 fatalities in the first quarter of 2012, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Reason behind increase
When there are cold winter months, fewer people like to leave home and drive on the roads. Since there was warmer weather this winter, more people were driving.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
Traffic fatalities in 2011 had fallen 1.7 percent overall for the year, representing the lowest known fatality rate on United States roads since 1949. In a May 2012 report, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration noted that 32,310 people were listed as vehicular fatalities over the course of 2011, down 1.7 percent from the 32,885 who passed away on United States highways in 2010. After hitting a fatality mark of 42,708 in 2005, traffic fatalities decreased by a total of 26 percent heading into 2011.
More miles driven, but not by much
The Washington Post explained that the drive time last year decreased to its lowest point since 2003, most likely due to gas prices and the recession. Drivers drove 35.7 billion miles fewer in 2011 than they did the year before, a 1.2 percent drop. In 2012, the number of miles driven only increased by 9.7 billion miles.
Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, was stunned by this year's number of traffic deaths.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
Largest spike in traffic fatalities since 1979
Since 1975, the NHTSA has been monitoring traffic deaths. It showed an enormous increase from 2011 to 2012; in fact, the increase was the biggest one seen in traffic deaths since 1979. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration was very surprised to see the increase because traffic deaths have been decreasing for a while. The Detroit News points out that in the first quarter of 2011, the traffic fatality rate was 0.98 per 100 million miles logged. That increased to 1.10 deaths per 100 million miles in the first quarter of 2012.
For the last seven years, there has been a steady decrease in U.S. road fatalities, but 2012 is stopping that number. In the first quarter of 2011, there were 6,720 deaths in crashes. That number increased to 7,630 fatalities in the first quarter of 2012, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
Reason behind increase
When there are cold winter months, fewer people like to leave home and drive on the roads. Since there was warmer weather this winter, more people were driving.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
Traffic fatalities in 2011 had fallen 1.7 percent overall for the year, representing the lowest known fatality rate on United States roads since 1949. In a May 2012 report, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration noted that 32,310 people were listed as vehicular fatalities over the course of 2011, down 1.7 percent from the 32,885 who passed away on United States highways in 2010. After hitting a fatality mark of 42,708 in 2005, traffic fatalities decreased by a total of 26 percent heading into 2011.
More miles driven, but not by much
The Washington Post explained that the drive time last year decreased to its lowest point since 2003, most likely due to gas prices and the recession. Drivers drove 35.7 billion miles fewer in 2011 than they did the year before, a 1.2 percent drop. In 2012, the number of miles driven only increased by 9.7 billion miles.
Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, was stunned by this year's number of traffic deaths.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
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