NHTSA Reports Increase in Traffic Deaths in 2015

On February 5, 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a press release announcing its report on traffic deaths during the first nine months of 2015. Traffic fatalities increased 9.3 percent across the country, reversing a trend of years of consistent declines.

According to the NHTSA, approximately 26,000 people died in traffic accidents on United States roads during the first three quarters of 2015, compared to 23,796 deaths over the same time period in 2014.

Increases in various regions of the country ranged from 2 to 20 percent.

Car or truck accident fatalities had decreased by more than 22 percent during the period from 2000 to 2014.

The NHTSA is hosting a series of regional summits to explore the choices and behaviors of drivers that have contributed to the increase. NHTSA research over the years has consistently found that human factors contribute to 94 percent of car or truck crashes. Issues to be addressed at these summits include speeding, driving while impaired, and failure to use seat belts and child seats.

“We’re seeing red flags across the U.S. and we’re not waiting for the situation to develop further,” said NHTSA Administrator Dr. Mark Rosekind. “It’s time to drive behavioral changes in traffic safety and that means taking on new initiatives and addressing persistent issues like drunk driving and failure to wear seat belts.”

The NHTSA should be applauded for taking a proactive approach to safety on our nation’s roads and highways, but an increase in deaths after years of decline is still an alarming development.

The fact of the matter is, we lose far too many Americans to traffic fatalities every year, and our national commitment to safety must remain ongoing, even when the trends appear to be going in the right direction.

If you or someone you care about has been injured or killed in a car accident or truck accident, contact the Kansas City lawyers at Wendt Law Firm P.C. to schedule your free consultation.

Our experienced legal team will thoroughly investigate your accident to determine if you have a claim, and then negotiate a settlement or represent you at trial to ensure you receive the full monetary compensation you deserve. We will only receive a fee in the event of a successful resolution of your case.