The death rate on America's interstates fell to its lowest levels ever last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) said. Data from last year showed that 42,636 people died in accidents on highways in 2004, a drop from the 2003 total of 42,884 and the lowest number since the agency started keeping records 30 years ago. In 1966 the agency recorded 50,894 highway deaths. Last year the NHTSA says fewer people died from alcohol-related accidents as well.
"Drivers are safer today on our nation's highways than they have ever been, in part because of the safer cars, higher safety belt use and stronger safety laws that this Department has helped champion", said Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. American drivers tallied 2.92 trillion miles in 2004, up from 2.89 trillion in 2003, the Department of Transportation added in a release. Motorcycle deaths rose, however, by eight percent, as did rollover deaths by 1.1 percent and SUV fatalities by 5.6 percent. Some 55 percent of all deaths in 2004 were the result of not wearing seatbelts.
Something to think about: That equals out to 23,450 lives that might have been saved if they were wearing their seatbelts.
Hattip: The Car Connection
Posted by Quality Weenie at August 2, 2005 08:12 AM | TrackBack