Fatal traffic accidents in the U.S have been steadily decreasing since around 2007. For the first time in nearly a decade, however, this trend may be on the upswing, as indicated by initial crash data for the first half of 2015.
In fact, authorities at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, a division of the DOT) have explained that there has been a 8 percent increase in deadly crashes in the U.S. during the first half of 2015 (when compared to the same period for 2014).
Behind the Numbers: Authorities’ Explanations & Reactions
On the surface, this year’s remarkable jump in deadly traffic wrecks in the U.S. may seem shocking, especially in light of new crash-avoidance technologies that would appear to reduce the incidence of crashes.
Falling fuel prices, coupled with falling unemployment rates, however, have been pivotal to putting more drivers on the road and to increasing the amount of leisure driving Americans are doing. And these factors – along with the fact that about 94 percent of traffic crashes in the U.S. are caused by a human element or error – start to reveal why traffic deaths have increased in 2015, authorities say.
Authorities have, however, also cautioned that the 2015 data is still preliminary and subject to change. Final findings will be available in 2016.
Reacting to these findings, NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind has stated that:
It is time as a nation to reinvigorate the fight against drunk and drugged driving, distraction and other risks that kill thousands every year, and time for State and local governments to reassess whether they are making the right policy choices to improve highway safety.
Are you surprised to learn of the surge in deadly traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2015? Tell us what you think on Facebook & Google+.
Contact a Denver Car Accident Lawyer at the Klibaner Law Firm
If you have been injured in an auto accident – or if you have lost a loved one to a fatal traffic crash, a Denver car accident lawyer at the Klibaner Law Firm is here for you, ready to aggressively advocate your rights to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. At the Klibaner Law Firm, our lawyers are passionate about defending the rights and interests of people who have been injured by others’ carelessness, recklessness and negligence.
To learn more about your options and how we can help you, contact our firm today by calling us at (303) 863-1445 or emailing us using the contact form on this page. When you contact us:
From our offices based in Denver, our attorneys provide superior representation to injured people throughout the Denver metro area and Colorado.
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