While the number of fatal car accidents had been steadily decreasing since the ‘70s, in the early 2010s a startling trend started to appear – an upward trend. The good news is that according to the latest information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it appears that for the third year in a row, deadly car accidents are once again on the decline. Keep reading to learn more and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 if you require a free legal consultation with a personal injury attorney.
By the Numbers
Fatal accidents went down in just about every category. Deaths of drivers were down 3%, passenger deaths decreased 4%, motorcycle deaths are down 1%, pedestrian deaths were down 2%, and pedacylicst deaths went down by 3%. There were not data groups that saw an increase in fatal accidents in 2019 compared to 2018.
While the full numbers are not yet in for 2019, statistical projection of traffic fatalities show that around 36,120 people died in car accidents. This is about 440 less than the 36,560 fatal accidents in 2018 – and keep in mind that Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) went down by nearly 1% as well. The fatality rate for 2019 was 1.1 fatal accidents per 100 million VMT – which is the second-lowest since this statistic was first recorded.
Why Are Fatal Accidents on the Decline?
There are a few reasons. First, remember that we are discussing fatal accidents – not overall accidents. As medical options improve and more lives are saved, a crash that would have been deadly ten years ago may be survivable today. Second, advanced safety measures in cars are both reducing the number of accidents and reducing the severity of those accidents that do occur.
Finally, consider the increase in public awareness campaigns. One of the main reasons experts believe that fatal accident numbers started to climb in the first place is because of the increase in distracted driving. As campaigns began to show drivers that driving while texting is as dangerous as driving while under the influence of drugs, the rate of distracted driving went down.
These Numbers are Just Projections
It is important to keep in mind that these are not final numbers – they are just projections. As more data is analyzed, these stats could be updated. That said, it does appear that we will have good news when those final numbers are released.
What we can be confident of is the fact that we are not likely to see a total reduction in car accidents to zero anytime soon. If you are injured in a car accident, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
