In what could be considered ‘good’ news in regards to auto accidents, the Transportation Department recently estimated that highway deaths fell about 3% from 2009 levels. While an incredibly high number of highway fatalities still occur, estimated at 32,788 deaths in 2010, the last time highway deaths were at such a low level was 1949. Both California and Arizona showed a marked decrease in highway fatalities in 2010.
What makes the 3% decrease in highway fatalities even more remarkable is that the number of miles driven increased by 20.5 billion. The rate of death per 100 million miles driven was 1.09 in 2010, down from 1.13 deaths per 100 million miles in 2009.
The decreased fatality rate is attributed to many factors. Car safety improvements such as airbags, side airbags, anti-rollover technology, anti-lock breaks and electronic stability control have all reduced the rate of serious injury in car accidents. So too have better highway design and increased enforcement of drunk driving and cell phone laws. But most importantly, seat belt usage has continually increased, reaching a high of 84% in 2009.
See the full news article here.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident, do not hesitate to contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker today at (800) 333-0000. We’ve been helping the victims of auto accidents for more than 30 years, helping to recover $1 billion for our clients.
