Data released recently by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that during the first six months of 2016, law enforcement registered 18,000 deaths associated with traffic accidents. This number is terrifying safety advocates and government officials, prompting them to form a coalition that will implement efforts to bring the number of deadly crashes down.
According to officials, 18,000 deaths account for an increase of more than 10 percent when data from the same period in 2015 is analyzed. But this is not the first time that officials notice a major change in the deadly accident rates.
Since 2014, reports show that the number of people dying due to auto crashes has been increasing steadily since 2014. Between January and June of 2016, US drivers put in about 50.5 billion miles, which led to several accidents and 18,000 deaths.
But in 2015, 35,092 people were killed in car crashes, representing a 7.2 percent increase when compared to 2014. In the past 50 years, the 2015 numbers accounted for the largest percentage increase. But as the rates continue to grow, officials hope to launch an effort that could help to bring the number of deaths down.
The campaign will count with the US Department of Transportation and a series of safety groups. This coalition is developing a 30-year plan that, much like the one implemented in Sweden, would help to reduce the number of roadway fatalities.
According to Swedish data, the plan implemented in 1997 helped to reduce the number of deadly crashes from 7 per 100,000 to fewer than 3 in 15 years.
In 94 percent of the fatal crashes reported, driver error was to blame. To experts, this shows that drivers who are not paying attention to the road or who are intoxicated or drowsy are often exposed to greater risks.
If you’re a driver and the number of deadly crashes scares you, make sure to follow some important defensive driving techniques so crashes won’t expose you or your loved ones to any major concerns.
For more on the data shared by federal auto safety agencies, click here to read more or watch the video below.
