Traffic Deaths At Lowest Level In 10 Years

Still, More Than 41,000 Died In Highway Crashes Last Year; Motorcycle Deaths Increased For 10th Straight Year

(AP)  Traffic deaths in the United States declined last year, reaching the lowest level in more than a decade.

Some 41,059 people were killed in highway crashes, down by more than 1,000 from 2006.

The fatality rate of 1.37 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled in 2007 was the lowest on record, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in its report Thursday.

California had the largest decline, 266 fewer fatalities than the previous year. The largest percentage decreases were in South Dakota and Vermont.

North Carolina's death toll increased the most in the nation, up 121 over the previous year. The District of Columbia and Alaska had the highest percentage increases.

Motorcycle deaths increased for the 10th straight year. There were 5,154 motorcycle deaths last year, compared with 4,837 in 2006.

[gatofeo]

"Motorcycle deaths increased for the 10th straight year ..."

Undoubtedly, motorcycle deaths have increased because many states have rescinded their helmet requirement.
It irks me that here in Utah I''ll be fined $50 for driving without wearing a seat belt, but motorcyclists are not required to wear helmets or protective clothing.
I''ve seen motorcyclists go by me at 80 mph with no helmet, barefoot, shorts and T-shirt.
Anyone who drives a motorcycle without a helmet is just plain stupid.
Spare me the "wind in my hair" philosophical argument. Any motorcyclist who doesn''t want to wear a helmet should be required to have $1 million in health insurance to cover his medical bills.
A $50 helmet is often the dividing line between walking away and suffering catastrophic head injuries. And folks, head injuries are VERY expensive to treat and rehabilitate.
I believe in wearing a seat belt. One saved my father''s life 40 years ago. Seat belts have twice saved me from serious injury.
Why shouldn''t motorcyclists also be required to be as responsible as most drivers?

[barbaram99]

Really..I don''t that that is true. Thers are more cars out there today than years ago. Every day there a drive by shooting. Figer that.

[toldyouso12]

Less cars on the road (due to high prices) less accidents. It ain''t rocket science.

[deacon20081]

Smells like Propaganda to convince us " See fewer fatalities, high Gas Prices are a Good Thing!!"

[bobnjersey]

[Nowadays people walk away from accidents that ten yeras ago would have killed them.]
[Posted by cgeller100 at 02:39 PM : Aug 14, 2008]

this is true in many cases. but i''ve seen stats that say that the costs to insurance companies have actually increased due to these safety enhancements ... because if the passenger had been thrown thru the windshield in a head on collision, they''d be dead ... and the insurance co. would not have to pay any medical expenses. but if they survive ... but have two broken legs ... or a more serious trauma incident ... the medical costs could be astronomical. all it takes is a few of these to outpace all the savings from those that survive unscathed.

[lovegetpeace]

Keep the gas prices high so that American do not hit the accelerator so much. Hence, reducing accidents.

[lovegetpeace]

Posted by usclimey at 03:00 PM : Aug 14, 2008

From CXA to OH, did your income go down by 50% also?

[drawdedill]

Insurance companies will have less payouts and they should reduce insurance rates. Law makers should jump on this to see that rates are reduced accordingly.

[netadmin1-2009]

Don''t you know - The day Obama takes office - gas will fall to 20 cents per gallon - insurance will decrease in price - highway fatalities will increase because of more prople traveling to get out of the country.

[drawdedill]

It is time that auto liability Insurance Companies should take a look at lowering liability insurance rates. If they do not reduce rates accordingly, then law makers should see that theh reduce rates.