The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released preliminary traffic death information for 2015. It found that there was an estimated 7.7 percent increase in the number of traffic deaths for 2015 compared to 2014. The total for 2015 is roughly 35,200. That means that nearly 100 people die every day in traffic accidents.
Pinpointing the Problem
The NHTSA estimated that nine regions of the country had more traffic deaths in 2015. The United States as a whole is also the highest-ranking country for traffic deaths among 19 high-income comparison countries.
The most significant spike from year-to-year was for bicyclists and pedestrians. The NHTSA notes that part of the reason these numbers are up is because travel expenses have decreased, which means that Americans are driving more miles as a whole.
The other major factor, however, is still human error. Speeding, drunk driving and lack of using restraint systems are still major problems that affect safety on today’s roadways. Distracted driving continues to be one of the top reasons that accidents occur.
Changing Driving Habits
The NHTSA will call its safety partners, state and local officials, data scientists, policy experts, and others to a summit on changing driving habits based on the data released regarding traffic deaths in 2015. Their hope is to develop plans, policies, and programs to increase driver safety and decrease the number of deaths on U.S. roadways.
The National Safety Council has also expressed its frustration regarding the unacceptably high fatality rates for 2015. They will likely have a voice at the upcoming summit as well.
Unfortunately, when just one person engages in unsafe driving, everyone on the roadway loses. Their decisions affect more than just their own life. If you have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident, you have legal options. The car accident attorneys at Simien & Simien can help.
Contact our personal injury attorneys today by calling (800) 374-8422.
