The National Safety Council recently released the preliminary estimates for motor vehicle deaths for last year. The data shows that motor vehicle deaths were 8% higher in 2015 than in 2014 – the largest year-to-year percent increase in over 50 years in the United States.
The National Safety Council estimates that in 2015 over 38,000 people were killed and 4.4 million were seriously injured on American roads. Many predict that 2015 was most likely the deadliest driving year since 2008.
Oregon, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina all experienced significant increases in roadway fatalities in 2015. Thankfully 13 states showed some improvements, like New Mexico, Kansas, and New Jersey.
Experts believe that many factors contributed to the increase in motor vehicle deaths in 2015, but the most likely factors included a stronger economy and lower average gas prices. The average gas prices were 28% lower in 2015 than in 2014 and are expected to continue to decrease in 2016. Many people have already reported gas prices to be almost $1.50 per gallon today. As a result of more people working and the low gas prices, driving is more affordable for many Americans.
Also Read: Top 7 Solutions to Avoid Long Haul Accidents
The National Safety Council promotes safety by recommending all drivers to:
- Ensure they and all their passengers are buckled up
- You get plenty of sleep before driving
- Avoid drugs and alcohol before driving
- Never use a cell phone behind the wheel
While the number of truck driver fatalities has yet to be released for 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that crashes are the leading cause of death for truck drivers in the US. For 35 years the number of deaths was at an all time low, but the numbers started to increase significantly between 2009 and 2012. About 700 drivers of large trucks or their passengers died in crashes in 2012 and another 26,000 were injured. More than a third of those deaths were not wearing a seat belt.
To increase your safety for you and those around you, remember to wear your seat belt at all times and avoid using your cell phone while driving. In 2011 over 1.3 million car crashes involved the use of cell phones. Texting and driving can kill.
Let’s make 2016 the year we start to decrease motor vehicle fatalities. Buckle up and stop texting and driving. Safe driving can save us all.
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