Bituminous Insurance Companies

Historic Drop in U.S. Highway Fatalities

The overall number of traffic fatalities in 2007 reached its lowest level since 1994. The 2007 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatalities and People Injured, compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), shows a 3.9-percent decline in people killed in the United States, from 42,708 in 2006 to 41,059 in 2007. This reduction in fatalities is the largest in terms of both number and percentage since 1992. In addition, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.37, the lowest fatality rate on record.

Passenger car occupant fatalities declined for the fifth consecutive year, while light-truck occupant fatalities dropped for the second consecutive year. However, motorcyclist fatalities continued their 10-year increase, reaching 5,154 in 2007; the highest number since NHTSA started collecting fatality crash data in 1975. Motorcyclist fatalities now account for 13 percent of total fatalities.

Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (i.e., fatalities in crashes involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a blood alcohol concentration [BAC] of .08 grams per deciliter [g/dL] or greater) declined by 3.7 percent in 2007.

In 2007, about 2.49 million people were injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes, compared to 2.58 million in 2006 - this was the first time, since NHTSA began collecting injury data in 1988, that the number of people injured in crashes was estimated to be below 2.5 million, and constitutes the eighth consecutive yearly reduction in people injured. The number of people injured declined in all categories, except motorcyclists and pedestrians.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters stated that the U.S. Department of Transportation will continue its efforts to combat impaired driving, increase safety belt use, and to improve motorcycle safety.

The DOT collects crash statistics annually from 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to produce annual reports on fatalities and injuries. To view the 2007 Traffic Safety Annual Assessment – Highlights report, click on the following link: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811017.PDF.

COPYRIGHT ©2008, 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.