What is Behind the Recent Increase in Traffic Related Deaths?
Wednesday, March 22, 2017You may have seen some recent press releases detailing a significant increase in traffic deaths in the U.S. The 7.7% increase from 2014 (32,675 traffic deaths) to 2015 (35,200 traffic deaths) reverses several years’ trend of small increases or decreases.
Traffic deaths peaked in 2005 at 43,450 prior to the Great Recession. Previously they reached an all time high of 54,600 in 1972. The drop in traffic deaths is attributed to improvements in the driving environment, such as removal or protection from roadside hazards. Also, the addition of air bags increased vehicle safety, along with decreases in human factors, for example, lower drunken driving rates.
The decrease in traffic deaths from 1972 to 2014 occurred against a backdrop of a significant increase in miles travelled in the United States from 1.3 trillion to 3.0 trillion. Concurrently, the death toll from traffic related incidents dropped from 4.3 per million miles to 1.1 So while Americans were driving more, the traffic death rate dropped significantly.
The three leading causes of traffic deaths are alcohol (31%), speeding (30%), and distracted driving (26%). Some deaths may be the result of multiple causes. Traffic deaths due to alcohol decreased until 2000, but have held steady since then. Similarly, speeding related traffic deaths have remained flat for the last decade as have distracted driving related deaths. Cell phone use makes up only 13% of all distracted driving related traffic deaths. Distracted driving can also include eating, talking to passengers, or adjusting radio and/or climate control. While the aforementioned causes have remained flat, studies suggest that traffic deaths increase with increased speed limits.
The single largest percentage increase in the cause of traffic deaths was distracted driving with an 8.8% increase in 2015. Also, the percentage increase of pedestrian, pedal cyclist and motorcyclist deaths was almost 10% compared to the overall increase in vehicle deaths of 6.6%.
The causes of non-vehicle increases were not investigated, but may be due to the increased interest in recreation and exercise.
The data for 2016 indicates another preliminary significant increase. Stay tuned for more information on the details of the increase.
Joseph A. Regis, PE, CFM, PTOE
