Since the NHTSA started monitoring quarterly traffic deaths, no quarter in the United States has been as terrible as the first of 2012. The fatality rate leaped a record 13.5 percent, the toughest since 2008.
Bigger increase since 1979
NHTSA officials were surprised to see the largest boost in traffic fatalities in the first three months of 2012 since 1979, according to the Detroit news. In the first quarter of 2011, there were 0.98 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, but that number increased to 1.10 traffic deaths per 100 million miles. That is an enormous increase. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has been keeping track of the mortality rates since 1975 and did not expect a rise at all.
If you want exact numbers, there was an increase in death rates from 6,720 for the 2011 first quarter to 7,630 fatalities in the first quarter of 2012. For the past seven years, the road deaths in the country have been decreasing. This year has broken that record.
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 typically 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."
Traffic fatalities in 2011 had fallen 1.7 percent overall for the year, representing the lowest known death rate on U.S. roads since 1949. In a May 2012 report, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration noted that 32,310 people were listed as vehicular fatalities over the course of 2011, down 1.7 percent from the 32,885 who died on U.S. highways in 2010. After hitting a death mark of 42,708 in 2005, traffic deaths decreased by a total of 26 percent heading into 2011.
Only a few billion more miles
From 2011 to 2012, there was only a 9.7 billion increase in the number of miles driven. From 2010 to 2011, U.S. drivers drove about 35.7 billion fewer miles. This was due to low fuel prices and the recession, according to the Washington Post. Driving in 2011 was at its lowest point since 2003.
Barbara Harsha is the executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. She said that this year's numbers stunner her.
"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."
Bigger increase since 1979
NHTSA officials were surprised to see the largest boost in traffic fatalities in the first three months of 2012 since 1979, according to the Detroit news. In the first quarter of 2011, there were 0.98 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, but that number increased to 1.10 traffic deaths per 100 million miles. That is an enormous increase. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has been keeping track of the mortality rates since 1975 and did not expect a rise at all.
If you want exact numbers, there was an increase in death rates from 6,720 for the 2011 first quarter to 7,630 fatalities in the first quarter of 2012. For the past seven years, the road deaths in the country have been decreasing. This year has broken that record.
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 typically 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."
Traffic fatalities in 2011 had fallen 1.7 percent overall for the year, representing the lowest known death rate on U.S. roads since 1949. In a May 2012 report, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration noted that 32,310 people were listed as vehicular fatalities over the course of 2011, down 1.7 percent from the 32,885 who died on U.S. highways in 2010. After hitting a death mark of 42,708 in 2005, traffic deaths decreased by a total of 26 percent heading into 2011.
Only a few billion more miles
From 2011 to 2012, there was only a 9.7 billion increase in the number of miles driven. From 2010 to 2011, U.S. drivers drove about 35.7 billion fewer miles. This was due to low fuel prices and the recession, according to the Washington Post. Driving in 2011 was at its lowest point since 2003.
Barbara Harsha is the executive director of the Governors Highway Safety Association. She said that this year's numbers stunner her.
"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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