In an age where automotive safety tools are as advanced as they've ever been, some distressing things have happened on U.S. highways in 2012. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic deaths in the first quarter of 2012 jumped a whopping 13.5 percent, to the highest death rate since 2008. Sources indicate this is the second-largest quarterly boost in United States traffic fatalities since the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has kept track of such quarterly statistics, starting in 1975.
Bigger increase since 1979
NHTSA officials were surprised to see the biggest boost in traffic fatalities in the first three months of 2012 since 1979, according to the Detroit news. In the first quarter of 2011, there were 0.98 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, but that number increased to 1.10 traffic fatalities per 100 million miles. That is a massive increase. The NHTSA has been keeping track of the mortality rates since 1975 and did not expect a rise at all.
According to NHTSA estimates, 7,630 U.S. drivers and passengers perished in car crashes over the first quarter, up from 6,720 the previous year. The 2012 increase actually snaps a string of steady drop in U.S. road fatalities that had remained intact for the past seven years.
Is there is a reason?
When there are cold winter months, fewer people like to leave home and drive on the roads. Since there was hotter weather this winter, more people were driving.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
There was a decrease in traffic fatalities in 2011 by 1.7 percent over the entire road. It led to the lowest known fatality rate since 1949. In 2005, the country hit a death mark of 42,708, but that number decreased 26 percent before going into 2011. In 2010, there were 32,885 people who passed away on the highways. From that time till 2011, there was a 1.7 percent decrease in deaths, according to a May 2012 report.
About 10 billion more miles
The Washington Post explained that the drive time last year decreased to its lowest point since 2003, most likely due to fuel costs and the recession. Drivers drove 35.7 billion miles fewer in 2011 than they did the year before, a 1.2 percent drop. In 2012, the number of miles driven only increased by 9.7 billion miles.
This year's quantity of traffic deaths really surprised the Governors Highway Safety Association executive director Barbara Harsha.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
Bigger increase since 1979
NHTSA officials were surprised to see the biggest boost in traffic fatalities in the first three months of 2012 since 1979, according to the Detroit news. In the first quarter of 2011, there were 0.98 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, but that number increased to 1.10 traffic fatalities per 100 million miles. That is a massive increase. The NHTSA has been keeping track of the mortality rates since 1975 and did not expect a rise at all.
According to NHTSA estimates, 7,630 U.S. drivers and passengers perished in car crashes over the first quarter, up from 6,720 the previous year. The 2012 increase actually snaps a string of steady drop in U.S. road fatalities that had remained intact for the past seven years.
Is there is a reason?
When there are cold winter months, fewer people like to leave home and drive on the roads. Since there was hotter weather this winter, more people were driving.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
There was a decrease in traffic fatalities in 2011 by 1.7 percent over the entire road. It led to the lowest known fatality rate since 1949. In 2005, the country hit a death mark of 42,708, but that number decreased 26 percent before going into 2011. In 2010, there were 32,885 people who passed away on the highways. From that time till 2011, there was a 1.7 percent decrease in deaths, according to a May 2012 report.
About 10 billion more miles
The Washington Post explained that the drive time last year decreased to its lowest point since 2003, most likely due to fuel costs and the recession. Drivers drove 35.7 billion miles fewer in 2011 than they did the year before, a 1.2 percent drop. In 2012, the number of miles driven only increased by 9.7 billion miles.
This year's quantity of traffic deaths really surprised the Governors Highway Safety Association executive director Barbara Harsha.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
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