The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States Department of Transportation issued the Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2021. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration forecasts that 8,730 persons died in motor vehicle traffic collisions in the first three months of 2021, up 10.5 percent from the 7,900 deaths predicted by the agency in the first quarter of 2020.
These increases in deaths come despite a drop in driving; early data from the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fell by 2.1 percent, or approximately 14.9 billion miles, in the first three months of 2021. The mortality rate per 100 million VMT climbed to 1.26 deaths per 100 million VMT in the first quarter of 2021, up from the expected rate of 1.12 fatalities at the same period last year.
The importance of this data
“By taking a transformative and collaborative approach to safety, we can solve the horrific loss of life we saw on the roads in 2020.” “Everyone bears responsibility for road safety, including those who plan, operate, build, and utilize the road system,” stated Dr. Steven Cliff, Acting Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “We’re working closely with our safety partners to address dangerous driving behaviors including speeding, driving while intoxicated, and not wearing a seatbelt.”
These early estimates suggest that the driving patterns and behaviors reported by the agency in 2020, which differed significantly from previous years, continue to prevail, and that the drivers who were driving were more likely to take part in risky behavior, such as speeding, not wearing seat belts, and driving while intoxicated.
NHTSA also issued the 10th edition of Countermeasures That Work to help stakeholders in assessing trends and identifying countermeasures. This study advocates for a proactive, equitable safe system approach to reducing deaths on our nation’s roads, and it takes into account the safety of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.
The most dangerous behaviors on the road are no surprise
Alcohol and drug-impaired driving, bicycle safety, distracted driving, drowsy driving, motorcycle safety, older drivers, pedestrian safety, seat belts and child restraints, speeding and speed management, and young drivers are among the ten program areas covered in this edition of Countermeasures That Work. The paper looks at how each issue affects our society and offers practical methods for communities to consider when dealing with these issues.
The improvements to this edition are highlighted in a two-page Traffic Tech, which includes new countermeasures and enlarged concern areas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will also release easy-to-use reference sheets on each of the ten concerns addressed in Countermeasures That Work, which will assist communities in learning about and implementing the most successful solutions.
If you have been injured in a vehicle accident, contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation at your earliest convenience.
