According to new statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, traffic accident fatality numbers for the year 2010 fell to record lows, ending at a total of 32,885 fatalities. That was a drop of 2.9% from the previous year, and also the lowest traffic accident fatality numbers on record since 1949. Last year, there was a decline in traffic accident deaths even though Americans drove approximately 46 billion more miles.
Missouri car accident lawyers credit this decline in accident fatalities with a number factors. Many states now have strong anti-drunk driving enforcement campaigns in place, and the numbers of alcohol-related car crashes has been dropping steadily. Additionally, safety campaigns, such as Horn Law’s Drive By Example Safety Organization in Kansas City, have helped to increase seat belt use and curb distracted driving.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also finds that more than 3,000 people were killed last year in accidents related to cell phone use while driving. Overall, 3,092 people were killed in accidents caused when someone was dialing a cell phone, sending or receiving a text message or performing any other activity related to the use of electronic communication devices while driving. The agency used a new measure to tabulate these deaths last year, so there’s no way to compare those numbers with those in previous years.
Deaths caused by intoxicated drivers dropped by 4.9% in 2010. However, the number of people being killed in pedestrian accidents, and the number of motorcycle riders killed in accidents increased last year. The decline in pedestrian accidents is especially shocking, since it comes after 4 straight years of declining pedestrian accident death rates.
