5 Statistics About Car Accidents That May Surprise You
Auto accidents affect many people in the United States each year and are something that every driver on the road worries about. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) puts out an annual report compiling statistics about the year’s traffic accidents. The report shows good and bad trends and addresses areas of concern. Here are 5 statistics about car accidents that might surprise you.
- America is leading the world in car accident deaths.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans die from car accidents than any other high-income country in the world. While other countries have seen a steady decrease in traffic accident fatalities over the past decade, the United States has had a steady increase. In 2017, around 92 people died every day from injuries sustained in a car accident.
- Seat belt use is improving, but it’s still not great.
As of August 2018, American seat belt use was estimated to be 83 percent. That number may seem high, but it places the United States as third lowest among high-income countries. This percentage is alarming because around half of the fatal accidents in 2017 involved a person who was not wearing a seat belt. Seat belts cannot prevent every fatality, but it can prevent many of them.
- 44% of teenagers admit to texting while driving.
Distracted driving is dangerous, and texting while driving is one of the worst offenses. Not surprisingly, it’s most common among teens, but it’s a problem among adults as well. Cell phone use while driving accounts for over 1.5 million crashes each year, with around a quarter of those related to texting. An alarming percentage of both teens and adults say that they can easily manage texting while driving, despite significant evidence to the contrary. Texting while driving causes you to spend an average of 4 times as much time with your eyes on your device instead of the road, and that is a huge concern for both pedestrians and other drivers.
- Temperature makes a difference.
The weather can have a big impact on driving. People spend more time on the road during warmer weather. The NHTSA has found a positive correlation between temperature and car accidents. Tough winter road conditions might mean that fewer drivers are on the road, but the people who are out driving are at higher risk for accidents. The Federal Highway Administration estimates that on average, 22% of all vehicle accidents are weather-related. It’s not just snow and ice that are of concern; fog and wind speed are also contributory factors to crashes.
- Older adults are at particular risk.
As the number of licensed drivers 65 and older continues to increase, the number of accidents involving this population is also on the rise. According to recent statistics, over 500 older adults are injured in crashes each day, and around 18 seniors die from traffic accidents each day. While older drivers are just as likely to be in crashes as younger adults for any number of reasons, there are also some specific contributory factors for older adults, such as physical and cognitive health challenges. The NHSTA has put out a special report for this at-risk population as well as offering tips for how to minimize the risk.
Of course, not everyone will get into a car accident but knowing who to trust if you or your loved one is injured is important. The Sanders Firm is available for all your legal concerns. 1.800.FAIR.PLAY
For the most current information form the NHSTA click here:
No comments:
Post a Comment