Accident Lawyer Info: NHTSA: Traffic Fatalities Significantly Increased During 2016 And This Troubling Trend May Continue Into 2017
Accident Lawyer Info: Vehicle accidents and traffic fatalities are on a sharp rise. An October 2016 Traffic Safety Facts –a publication of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed a rising trend in fatalities due to vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, and pedestrian accidents during the first half of 2016, and the trend may continue into 2017. This trend continued when comparing the same time period in 2015 to 2016 which shows a 10 percent increase in traffic deaths for first half of 2016. NHTSA estimates that total to almost 18,000 traffic deaths from January to June for 2016. During that same time period in 2015, there were almost 16,000 fatalities on the nation’s roadways. The results for 2017 have not been determined yet put a continued rise in roadway fatalities is expected.
[ https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812332 October 2016 ]
[ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/more-people-are-dying-on-the-road-heres-how-to-stop-it/2016/10/07/a5dbd61e-8c01-11e6-bff0-d53f592f176e_story.html?utm_term=.6b2a6924aa5d Washington Post October 2016 ]
Pedestrian, Motorcycle and bicycle deaths on the rise
the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports the crash data has not been finalized and the final statistics will be recalculated. But an upward climb in traffic fatalities may signal a troubling trend. NHTSA noted that 2016 hasn’t necessarily seen a drastic increase in the number of car accident fatalities. The increase in deaths is being attributed to a troubling rise in the number of fatalities from motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicyclist accidents. In 2015, there were over 5,300 pedestrian accident deaths in 2015, which represented a 9.5 percent increase, and there were 818 bicyclist deaths, which represented a 12.2 percent increase. These fatality statistics were the highest recorded totals by NHTSA for the past two decades.
Distracted Driving, Drunk Driving Possible reasons for the rising trend
Recently, there was a significant increase in the number of people who walked and cycled to work. One million more people chose non-motorized transportation in 2013 than in 2005. Yet, preliminary data shows that Americans are also driving 50.5 billion more miles on the roadways during the first half of 2016 compared to the same time period in 2015.
[ http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/05/08/bike-commuting-popularity-grows/8846311/ USAToday May 2014 ]
[ https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2014/cb14-86.html Census.gov May 2014 ]
[ http://www.pedbikeinfo.org/data/factsheet_general.cfm ]
[ http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-driving-idUSKCN0YI29Z Rueters May 2016 ]
[ http://www.artba.org/newsline/2016/08/25/as-u-s-drivers-set-pace-for-another-record-year-driver-deaths-also-rise/ ARTBA August 2016 ]
Though not every single accident is preventable, the majority of traffic fatalities could be drastically reduced simply by improving driver behaviors. Attention should always be focused on driving. Distracted driving, (Visual: taking your eyes off the road; Manual: taking your hands off the wheel; and Cognitive: taking your mind off of driving), and impaired driving may also be to blame due to drunk driving and impaired driving due to drugs.
According to the NHTSA, 2,955 fatal crashes in the United States in 2014 involved distraction (10 percent of all fatal crashes). Distracted driving is “any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving,” according to Distraction.gov. Distractions not only endanger drivers and passengers, but bystanders as well. Ten percent of fatal crashes, 18 percent of injury crashes, and 16 percent of all police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2013 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.
[ https://www.distraction.gov/stats-research-laws/facts-and-statistics.html Distraction.gov ]
[ https://www.distraction.gov/downloads/pdfs/Distracted_Driving_2013_Research_note.pdf NHTSA 2015 ]
In 2015, there were 10,265 fatalities due to alcohol-impaired crashes, an increase of close to 300 from the year before. “If you’re drinking, don’t drive,” advises National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Mark Rosekind. “We’re seeing these increases that we have not seen in 50 years. It’s tragic.” Drunk-driving fatalities were down for certain vehicle types—including motorcycles and semi-trucks—fatal but fatality crashes involving passenger cars increased 5%
{ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/2016-may-go-down-as-one-of-the-worst-years-for-drunk-driving-deaths/ CBS December 2016 ]
The FBI reports that in 2014, over 1.1 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. NHTSA reported that drugs other than alcohol (legal and illegal) are involved in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes. According to a 2015 a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Cannabis. 2015 6/2/2015 report marijuana use is increasing and 13% of nighttime, weekend drivers have marijuana in their system [ 2013–2014 National Roadside Survey of alcohol and drug use by drivers. Washington, DC, ] Marijuana users were about 25% more likely to be involved in a crash than drivers with no evidence of marijuana use NHTSA reports, however other factors – such as age and gender – may account for the increased crash risk among marijuana users.5
[ https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-29 Uniform Crime Reports. Washington (DC): FBI; 2015 ]
[ https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html ]
[ http://www.nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/nti/pdf/812117-Drug_and_Alcohol_Crash_Risk.pdf NHTSA; 2015 ]
An alarming highway fatality trend that may rise in 2017
Looking at the statistics from previous years may hint at what is to come. Today there is an ever increasing amount of people driving on our roadways. Plus more and more people are riding motorcycles, bicycles, or just walking. Now factor in an increasing numbers of distracted drivers, people using cellphones, text messaging, or eating while driving. Or impaired drivers who are either drunk or drug impaired and it all points to a trend that may continue to rise.
If You Have Been In An Auto Accident In Ohio, Contact Wright & Schulte LLC, An Experienced Ohio Highway Accident Law Firm
If you or a loved one were injured on the road and you’re looking for an Ohio highway accident law firm that will guarantee the caring, personalized and loyal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. For a free, no obligation legal evaluation of your case, simply fill out the online form on the right, or give Wright & Schulte LLC a call, at (937)-222-7477.
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