The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a new study that tallies the annual economic loss and societal harm for highway crashes. The figure in 2010? A whopping $871 billion. The biggest factors? Drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding.
The $871 billion breaks down as $277 billion for economic costs (damage to vehicles, roadways, etc.) and $594 billion in societal harm (loss of life, reduced quality of life, pain and suffering). In 2010, the year the NHTSA study examines, there were 32,999 deaths, 3.9 million injuries, and 24 million incidents of property damage from highway driving.
The new NHTSA study also examined the underlying factors of highway crashes. Drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding accounted for 56% of the economic damages and 62% of societal harm.
- Speeding was the most expensive cause, causing $59 billion in economic loss and $210 billion in societal harm.
- Close behind was drunk driving, with $49 billion economic loss and $199 billion societal harm.
- Distracted driving caused $46 billion in economic loss and $129 billion in societal harm.
- Pedestrians and Bicyclists were the fourth leading cause, costing $19 billion in economic loss and $90 billion in societal harm.
- Rounding out the top 5 causes was not wearing seat belts. Seat belt violations cost $14 billion in economic loss and $72 billion in societal harm.
See the NHTSA press release here.
The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker would like to remind drivers that drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding are all ill-advised. If you or a loved one has been injured in an auto accident, contact our experienced car accident attorneys today at (800) 333-0000 for a free consultation.
