Traffic Safety Facts – Fatality and Injury Statistics

The invention of the automobile began the rapid transformation of the American landscape. Roads, highways, bridges and tunnels were all quickly built to accommodate this new mode of travel. However despite all the obvious advantages that auto travel affords Americans, probably the greatest drawback is the ever looming fear of an automobile or truck accident.

There are many ways that an accident can happen. A speeding tractor trailer, a driver distracted by their cell-phone, a teenage driver driving too fast on a rural road, an intoxicated driver who thinks they are okay to drive, a tired driver who falls asleep at the wheel. These are just a few examples of the many ways auto accidents have taken their toll on the American driving public.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects statistics each year on traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Their exhaustive collection of data and analytical reports is a gold mine of information about what causes traffic accidents in the United States, which helps law enforcement and legislators determine what needs to be done in order to reduce accident and fatality rates.

Overall auto accident statistics

The NHTSA states that deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for people of every age from 2 through 34, and that traffic fatalities accounted for more than 90 percent of transportation-related fatalities. These numbers come as a surprise to many people, especially if you have been safely driving in your car for years.

In fact, in 2006 42,642 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes, which means that an average of 117 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2006 — one every 12 minutes. In Texas alone, there were 3,475 fatalities in the same year. A total of 2,575,000 people were injured that year in auto accidents. Here is how those numbers break down:

Traffic accident fatalities

• Passenger cars: 17,800
• Light trucks: 12,721
• Large trucks: 805
• Buses: 27
• Motorcycles: 4,810
• Pedestrians: 4,784
• Pedal-cyclists: 773
• Unknown / Other: 907

Traffic accident injuries

• Passenger cars: 1,475,000
• Light trucks: 857,000
• Large trucks: 23,000
• Buses: 10,000
• Motorcycles: 88,000
• Pedestrians: 61,000
• Pedal-cyclists: 44,000
• Unknown / Other: 18,000

Major transportation safety issues

• Seat belt use: In Texas, the observed seat belt use rate is 90%; however 48% of those who died in traffic accidents in 2006 were not wearing their seat belt. This means that the 10% of people who don’t wear their seatbelt account for nearly half of all fatalities, which is a grim statistic. Nationwide the NHTSA estimates that 15,383 lives were saved by seat belts in 2006, further highlighting their importance.
• Intoxicated drivers: Alcohol related traffic fatalities rose in 2006 to 17,602, which accounts for 41% of all traffic deaths nationwide. The statistics in Texas are a little grimmer, with 48% of all traffic fatalities attributed to alcohol use.
• Excessive speed: speeding is a major problem in the United States, and accounts for 31% of traffic fatalities in 2006. The NHTSA estimates that speed-related crashes cost our nation $40.4 billion dollars each year. In Texas, 1,474 or 42% of all traffic fatalities could be attributed to excess speed, which is estimated to cost the state $3.475 billion each year.
• Motorcycle safety: Motorcycle accidents have steadily been on the rise for years, mainly due to the increased number of registered motorcycles and licensed motorcycle operators on the road. In fact, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a traffic accident, and 8 times more likely to be injured. In 2006 motorcyclist fatalities accounted for 11% of all traffic fatalities, for a total of 4,810 deaths. 346 motorcyclists were killed in Texas that year, the majority of whom were not wearing a helmet. The NHTSA estimates that 82 of those unhelmeted losses could have been prevented if the operator was wearing a helmet.
• Large Truck collisions: One in eight traffic fatalities is the result of a crash involving a large truck. 12% of fatalities nationwide in 2006 were the result of a large truck collision, and not surprisingly it isn’t the truck drivers who are dying. 76% of the deaths in large truck collisions are the occupants of other vehicles, with only 15% of deaths being large truck occupants. Texas alone had 498 large truck fatalities in 2006.

If you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident or a tractor trailer accident, then the experienced attorneys at he Houston based law firm of Vujasinovic & Beckcom want to hear from you. We understand that large corporations such as trucking companies and insurance companies are more interested in protecting their own financial interests than in compensating you and your future. Our lawyers know the intricate details of the statutes and laws of the state of Texas, and they use that knowledge to help their clients recover the compensation that is necessary to maintain the quality of life injured people enjoyed before a debilitating accident. Contact the attorneys at Vujasinovic & Beckcom today and find out how we can bring justice to your accident case.

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 713.224.7800
Fax: 713.224.7801

Vujasinovic & Beckcom P.L.L.C
1001 Texas Avenue, Suite 1020
Houston, TX 77002

Phone: 713.224.7800
Fax: 713.224.7801