According to the most recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 7,000 people who were killed in traffic accidents already in 2012. Although this is about a 4 percent decrease from the early estimates of 2012, we’ve still got the holiday travel season to make it through, and with that we know that accident risks are bound to spike.
Accompanying the decrease in the number of traffic accident fatalities was the number of vehicle miles traveled (VMT). During the first three months of 2012, the number on VMT dropped close to 6 million miles.
Our Cape Coral car accident attorneys understand that it’s still too soon to speculate on the contributing factors or potential implications of any changes in deaths on our roadways. However, it should be noted that the historic downward trend in traffic fatalities in the past several years mean any comparison will be to an unprecedented low baseline figure. And any decrease shouldn’t give a false sense of security. We’ve got a ways to go before we hit the New Year and we’ve got some serious risks for accidents as winter residents and tourists begin their annual migration to the area.
Staying safe through the remainder of the year is going to take some effort on the part of drivers. We’ve got a plethora of road risks to worry about, including drunk driving, speeding, nighttime driving and distracted driving. And these are all preventable risks.
Drunk Driving:
Every day in America, roughly 27 people die as a result of drunk driving accidents. We’re not saying you can’t go out and have a drink, we’re just asking that you don’t drive afterwards. Make sure you’ve always got a designated driver. Keep an eye on friends and family members, too. Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.
Speeding:
Don’t rush to your own funeral. Speed limits have been strategically created to keep our roadways moving and to keep them moving safely. Did you know that speeding occurs in about a third of all fatal accidents? Each and every year, there are close to 15,000 people lost in these kinds of accidents. Follow the speed limit and leave for your destination with plenty of time to spare.
Nighttime Driving:
We drive during the night around 25 percent of our driving time. A lot of us find driving at night a breeze as there is often a lot less traffic around to worry about, whereas others find the lack of clear visibility daunting. But just because you can’t see the dangers does not mean they’re not there. Be cautious while driving at night.
Distracted Driving:
In 2011, there were more than 3,330 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver. An additional, 387,000 people were injured in these accidents. Many states are enacting laws-such as banning texting while driving, or using graduated driver licensing systems for teen drivers – to help raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. However, the effectiveness of cell phone and texting laws on decreasing distracted driving-related crashes requires further study.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident, contact Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured. Call for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
New Testing Evaluating Front-to-Rear Accident Avoidance, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 18, 2013
Two Killed in Rear-End Trucking Accident on I-75/Daniels, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, October 8, 2013