Personal Injury Law

Auto Fatalities Decline

By John A. Day

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has reported that automobile accidents for the first 10 months of 2008 are down significantly when compared with the same period in 2007.

Fatalities are down 10% to a total of 31,110 deaths in the first 10 months in the year.  If these numbers hold until the end of the year, total deaths will be under 38,000.

Thirty years ago, in 1979, there were 51,093 deaths on our nation's highways.  Of course, the number of vehicles on the road and the number of miles driven have increased dramatically during this time?

Why the welcome decline in deaths?  No one knows for sure.   However, it is reasonable to assume that better roads, safer vehicles and an increased use of seat belts have all played a role in saving lives.

Full post as published by Day on Torts on February 11, 2009 (boomark / email).