�� - �� - Traffic deaths in U.S. fall to 60-year low

�� · #1 10-09-2010, 06:30 PM

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of fatalities on America's highways is at its lowest level since 1950. The number of deaths in vehicle collisions last year fell by 9.2 percent compared to 2008. As of 2009, the fatality rate has dropped to 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. NHTSA says the decrease is largely thanks to increased seat belt use and effective campaigns against drunk driving.

Interestingly enough, The Detroit News is also reporting that nationally, the number of motorcycle fatalities decreased by 16 percent compared to 2009. That fall is the first such drop in over ten years, though no one is offering an explanation for those numbers.

Despite the relatively rosy outlook, NHTSA also says that we still have a long way to go. Last year, more than 30,000 people died and over 2.4 million people were injured in traffic collisions. Be careful out there, people.

[Sources: Automotive News, The Detroit News | Image: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty]

Traffic deaths in U.S. fall to 60-year low originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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