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Highway deaths fall to lowest level since 1950

wvgazette.com -- Traffic deaths have plummeted across the United States to levels not seen in more than a half-century, spurred by technology, safety-conscious drivers and tougher enforcement of drunken driving laws.

The Transportation Department said Thursday that traffic deaths fell 9.7 percent in 2009 to 33,808, the lowest number since 1950. In 2008, an estimated 37,423 people died on the highways.

Government and auto safety experts attributed the improvement to more people buckling up, side air bags and anti-rollover technology in more vehicles and a focus in many states on curbing drinking and driving. Economic conditions were also a factor.

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Submitted Sep 10, 2010 By: Timberline

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NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:7,250 Points:1,174,285 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Sep 11, 2010 12:47:12 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse Pathfinder: Try reading the article slowly and then reflecting before commenting! The lower death rate reported IS based on miles traveled. This is very good news for all of us and our families! In NH, the State Police do a poor enforcement job on our Interstates and are just about "no shows" on the southernmost section of I-93, from Salem, NH to Manchester, NH.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,662 Points:743,495 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 10:59:29 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse In 1950, 33,186 people died on U.S. roads with 50 million vehicles and 62 million drivers. Today, there are more than 210 million drivers and 250 million cars on American roads. Last year's statistics represent the lowest fatality and injury rates recorded: 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2009, compared with 1.26 deaths for 2008. By contrast, the rate in the 1950s was around 6 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100910/AUTO01/9100393/1148/auto01/U.S.-traffic-fatalities-fall-to-lowest-level-in-60-years#ixzz0zBb1dWeg
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,662 Points:743,495 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 10:50:32 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Get real pathfinder economic conditions have nothing to do with it. There are many more cars on the road today than there were in 1950, and there are also many more miles being driven. Cars and roads are safer today.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:4,721 Points:1,659,695 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 5:35:25 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse "Economic conditions were also a factor" I would suggest that it might have been a bigger factor than they concluded (like an afterthought).
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,183 Points:1,369,840 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 4:06:06 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Anytime you have a drop in Hwy deaths is good. But also the economy has dropped the number of people traveling.
gs7101 Champion Author San Antonio Posts:3,218 Points:246,030 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 10:41:18 AM Ignore gs7101 Report Abuse Good news.
albert2008 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:5,025 Points:1,023,110 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 9:38:42 AM Ignore albert2008 Report Abuse sounds good to me
JimTee Champion Author Tampa Posts:2,322 Points:1,192,575 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 9:29:07 AM Ignore JimTee Report Abuse This is good to hear.
amerk73 Champion Author Dallas Posts:4,730 Points:1,160,130 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 9:26:43 AM Ignore amerk73 Report Abuse good news
ENORMS Champion Author Colorado Posts:3,014 Points:1,175,810 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 7:11:06 AM Ignore ENORMS Report Abuse That's real good news!
BMW2014 Champion Author Toronto Posts:1,794 Points:364,300 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Sep 10, 2010 5:49:07 AM Ignore BMW2014 Report Abuse Perhaps drivers are more educated and civilized ever before!