Ok. So it’s not news traffic is bad in the city. Sometimes it seems to Queens personal injury attorneys that you are taking your life in your hands every time you step outside.
But it’s no safer outside the city. Officials with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just reported that the number of traffic fatalities on the nation’s roads increased nearly 14 percent during the first three months of 2012 compared to the first three months of 2011.
In the first quarter of 2011, officials tallied 6,720 traffic fatalities. This year, about 7,630 deaths were reported through the end of March. It’s the second-largest quarterly jump since officials started noting these numbers back in 1975. The largest jump was recorded in 1979, according to FOX NEWS.
And the rest of the year is unlikely to prove any safer. Officials are predicting an increasing number of fatalities will be recorded during each remaining quarter of 2012. Typically, the first quarter of the year is the safest.
But why are we seeing an increase? Some speculate that it’s because of the weather. With our unseasonably warm weather, motorists felt more comfortable venturing out on that much-needed vacation. Others think that it’s all because of the improving economy. With a little more spare cash in the pocket, drivers feel more comfortable spending at the pump.
Regardless of what caused it, statistics show that the number of vehicle miles traveled increased by nearly 1.5 percent from 2011 to 2010. In 2012, motorists drove about 9.7 billion miles during the first quarter.
Recent accident fatality stats:
-Yearly fatalities have been down since they peaked in 2005. There were more than 43,000 fatalities recorded that year.
-In 2006, during the first quarter, the number of fatalities hit a high of more than 9,550.
-In 2011, the number was down to the lowest level since 1949 with about 32,300.
-Veering off of the road and crossing over to an opposing lane accounts for nearly 60 percent of fatal accidents.
Figure it this way, more people were killed in car accidents during the first quarter of 2012 than U.S. soldiers were killed in both Afghanistan and Iraq in an entire decade.
New York travelers are currently dealing with an increase in newly-licensed drivers as well as more and more distractions in the driver’s seat. Both factors significantly contribute to the number of fatal accidents that we see on our roads. Drivers are asked to keep the cell phones, the text messaging devices and other electronics out of the driver’s seat. We’re also asking parents to talk with their teens about the risks and the dangers that accompany a driver’s license. You also want to reiterate the dangers of drunk driving and drowsy driving. Your driving habits greatly affect your safety behind the wheel.
Be careful out there and practice safe driving habits. Your actions behind the wheel can help to keep you out of a potentially fatal accident and keep you from becoming one of these statistics.
The Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC offers free and confidential consultations to the victims. Call 1-877-313-7673 for your free appointment today.
More Blog Entries:
Celebrating One Year of Stricter Distracted Driving Laws in New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 20, 2012
New York Traffic Accidents – Beware Summer Road Construction, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 13, 2012
