Industry News: Deaths On U.S. Roads Declining

[William Maley]

William Maley

Editor/Reporter - CheersandGears.com

May 11, 2012

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths are at their lowest levels since 1949.

NHTSA's preliminary numbers show an estimated 32,310 people died in traffic accidents last year, a 1.7% drop from 2010 where 32,885 people died. Deaths in traffic accidents has been decreasing by 26% since 2005.

New England and the Great Lakes region saw the biggest decrease in car accident deaths in 2011, with the former down 7.2% and the latter down 3.3%. California, Arizona, and Hawaii saw a 3.3% increase.

AAA says the decrease is due several factors, primarily being motorists drove 1.2% fewer miles last year and gas prices increased 6.7%. Vehicles are also being fitting with more standard safety equipment.

Source: The Detroit News, Kicking Tires

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[G. David Felt]

Yes bette constructed vehicles is the reason for lower deaths and seatbelts, yet were do we cross the line in letting technology protect us too much? Will this over protection make humanity loose it edge to push forth and explore new frontiers?