Traffic Fatalities in US Reach Highest Level Since 2007
Cars may be getting more advanced safety features, but U.S. traffic-related deaths are on the rise.
According to the National Safety Council, an estimated 40,200 deaths occurred last year on the road, a rise of 6 percent. It’s the first time since 2007 there were more than 40,000 fatalities. The increase likely comes from the fact that Americans drove more miles last year, a 3-percent increase in total miles. The National Safety Council attributes the increase to lower gas prices and an improving economy.
The increase in traffic-related fatalities in the past two years is the sharpest increase in 53 years.
SEE ALSO: Traffic Fatalities Up 10.4 Percent in First Half of 2016
The estimated annual mileage death rate in 2016 was 1.25 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, an increase of 3 percent compared to 2015.
It’s worth noting that the National Safety Council’s fatality estimates differ slightly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The government only counts deaths that occur on public roads, while the council includes fatalities in parking lots, driveways and private roads.
NHTSA recently reported traffic fatalities jumped 10.4 percent in the first half of 2016.
Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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