May 2007 - Traffic Deaths on America's Highways Down Slightly

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters announced that traffic deaths on U.S. roads were down slightly in 2006, according to preliminary figures, but cautioned that far too many lives continue to be lost. The number of road deaths is projected to have declined slightly, nationwide, from 43,443 in 2005 to 43,300 in 2006. Over half of passenger vehicle occupants killed were unbuckled, the preliminary data shows.

"Bad things happen when people don't buckle up, and no one is immune from the damage and devastation that comes from not wearing a seat belt," Secretary Peters said.

The Secretary noted that, as the summer driving seasons starts, police officers around the country will be on patrol looking for people who are not buckling up. She added that the U.S. Department of Transportation supports States with millions of dollars in highway safety funds annually, including nearly $27 million being used to support seat belt enforcement efforts.

The preliminary 2006 fatality numbers project a 2006 fatality rate of 1.44 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), down from 1.45 in 2005. During the same period, injuries dropped 6 percent, from 2.7 million in 2005 to 2.54 million in 2006. Previous estimates show that highway crashes cost society $230.6 billion a year, about $820 per person.

The preliminary figures also show that, between 2005 and 2006, overall alcohol-related fatalities increased 2.4 percent, from 17,525 to 17,941; pedestrian deaths dropped slightly, from 4,881 to 4,768; and fatalities from large truck crashes dropped from 5,212 to 5,018, a 3.7 percent decline.

COPYRIGHT ©2007, ISO Services Properties, Inc.

The information contained in this publication was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. ISO Services Properties, Inc., its companies and employees make no guarantee of results and assume no liability in connection with either the information herein contained or the safety suggestions herein made. Moreover, it cannot be assumed that every acceptable safety procedure is contained herein or that abnormal or unusual circumstances may not warrant or require further or additional procedure.