Since the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration began monitoring quarterly traffic deaths, no quarter in the U.S. has been as terrible as the first of 2012. The death rate jumped a record 13.5 percent, the worst since 2008.
More than anticipated
The significant increase in car accidents resulting in traffic fatalities reportedly came as a shock to NHTSA officials, who have been keeping track of quarterly fatality rates linked to traffic accidents since 1975. The first three months of 2012 witnessed the largest surge in traffic fatalities since 1979, noted The Detroit News. The rate of traffic deaths for every 100 million miles of vehicle travel in the United States increased to 1.10 traffic deaths per 100 million miles logged, higher than the 0.98 per 100 million miles from the first quarter of 2011.
According to NHTSA estimates, 7,630 U.S. drivers and passengers perished in car crashes over the first quarter, up from 6,720 the previous year. The 2012 increase actually snaps a string of steady drop in United States road fatalities that had remained intact for the past seven years.
More drivers with warm weather
Most experts think that the reason behind more deaths was that there were more people on the roads this winter. People generally make an effort to keep away from the roads when the weather is terrible and it is more dangerous.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
The NHTSA released a report in May 2012 looking at the 2011 traffic fatalities. From 2010 to 2011, there was a 1.7 percent decrease in the number of highway traffic fatalities from 32,885 to 32,310 people. The complete 1.7 percent decrease for the year marked the lowest death rate since 1949. From 2005 to 2011, there was a total decreased of 26 percent from the 2005 death rate of 42,708.
About Ten billion more miles
The Washington Post explained that the drive time last year decreased to its lowest point since 2003, probably due to fuel prices and the recession. Drivers drove 35.7 billion miles fewer in 2011 than they did the year before, a 1.2 percent drop. In 2012, the number of miles driven only increased by 9.7 billion miles.
Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, was stunned by this year's number of traffic fatalities.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
More than anticipated
The significant increase in car accidents resulting in traffic fatalities reportedly came as a shock to NHTSA officials, who have been keeping track of quarterly fatality rates linked to traffic accidents since 1975. The first three months of 2012 witnessed the largest surge in traffic fatalities since 1979, noted The Detroit News. The rate of traffic deaths for every 100 million miles of vehicle travel in the United States increased to 1.10 traffic deaths per 100 million miles logged, higher than the 0.98 per 100 million miles from the first quarter of 2011.
According to NHTSA estimates, 7,630 U.S. drivers and passengers perished in car crashes over the first quarter, up from 6,720 the previous year. The 2012 increase actually snaps a string of steady drop in United States road fatalities that had remained intact for the past seven years.
More drivers with warm weather
Most experts think that the reason behind more deaths was that there were more people on the roads this winter. People generally make an effort to keep away from the roads when the weather is terrible and it is more dangerous.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
The NHTSA released a report in May 2012 looking at the 2011 traffic fatalities. From 2010 to 2011, there was a 1.7 percent decrease in the number of highway traffic fatalities from 32,885 to 32,310 people. The complete 1.7 percent decrease for the year marked the lowest death rate since 1949. From 2005 to 2011, there was a total decreased of 26 percent from the 2005 death rate of 42,708.
About Ten billion more miles
The Washington Post explained that the drive time last year decreased to its lowest point since 2003, probably due to fuel prices and the recession. Drivers drove 35.7 billion miles fewer in 2011 than they did the year before, a 1.2 percent drop. In 2012, the number of miles driven only increased by 9.7 billion miles.
Barbara Harsha, executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, was stunned by this year's number of traffic fatalities.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
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