The number of fatal car accidents is up nationwide in 2012. It’s dangerous out there.
Although areas in New York were recently ranked as some of the safest, according to WebMD, there are other areas that weren’t so fortunate.
The truth of the matter is that roadways nationwide, especially in New York, are dangerous and are seeing an alarming rate of car accidents. The most dangerous state was the state of Florida, but we’re not in the clear.
Our Queens car accident attorneys understand that accident rates have declined in recent years, but calculations from the first quarter of 2012, were not as promising. As we recently reported, we saw a significant increase in the number of traffic fatalities during the first quarter of 2012 in comparison to 2011.
In 2009, which serves as some of the most recent accident statistics available, there were close to 34,500 people who were killed in car accidents across the country.
Some motorists are at higher risks. Young drivers, or those between the ages of 15- and 24-years-old. accounted for nearly a quarter of these fatalities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Some of the most dangerous cities had overall fatality rates of nearly 20 deaths per 100,000 residents. The national average was just over 11 per 100,000 while some of the safest areas had rates of about 7.5 per 100,000.
Where are the safest places to drive? According to the MMWR, Boston, Cleveland, Buffalo, Hartford and Newark were safest. Some of the most dangerous were Las Vegas, Miami, Glendale, Memphis and Orlando.
To help reduce these risks and to make roadways across the nation safer for all, officials with the CDC are recommending that we focus on young drivers. As a matter of fact, car accidents continue to be the leading cause of death for teens and young adults across the country. Some communities are launch safety-based programs however, to try to turn this stat around. Strict enforcement and high-visibility has been proven to get drivers’ attention.
“Proven population-based intervention such as strong graduated-driver licensing and alcohol-impaired driving prevention polices offer the potential to reduce more vehicle crash deaths,” said the CDC’s Scott Kegler, PhD.
Teens should complete a graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program before they’re able to obtain an unrestricted license. They must complete a number of driving stages, each with different rules, before they can hit the open road freely. During this time, parents are urged to stay involved with their teen’s career behind the wheel. Make sure you offer them plenty of advice and supervised driving time.
Officials are also conducting a number of ignition interlock programs and sobriety check points. Just because they’re not old enough to drink doesn’t mean they’re not going to. Young drivers are disproportionately involved in alcohol-related crashes.
If you have been injured in an accident in New York, contact the Law Offices of Nicholas Rose, PLLC for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-877-313-7673.
More Blog Entries:
Government Cash Aims to Improve Road Safety in New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, July 10, 2012
Teen Car Accidents a Primary Summer Threat in New York, New York Injury Lawyer Blog, June 12, 2012
