U.S. traffic fatalities were up 13.5 percent over the first quarter of this year, reports The Detroit News. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, that's the most critical surge since 2008.
Massive traffic death increase
The significant increase in car accidents resulting in traffic deaths reportedly came as a surprise to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration officials, who have been keeping track of quarterly fatality rates linked to traffic accidents since 1975. The first three months of 2012 witnessed the largest surge in traffic fatalities since 1979, noted The Detroit News. The rate of traffic deaths for every 100 million miles of automobile travel in the United States increased to 1.10 traffic fatalities per 100 million miles logged, higher than the 0.98 per 100 million miles from the first quarter of 2011.
If you would like exact numbers, there was an increase in death rates from 6,720 for the 2011 first quarter to 7,630 fatalities in the first quarter of 2012. For the past seven years, the road deaths in the country have been decreasing. This year has broken that record.
Possible factors
Professionals believe that a warmer than normal winter across the nation translated to more drivers on the roads. Typically, the cold winter months and related treacherous road conditions keep more drivers at home.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration released a report in May 2012 looking at the 2011 traffic fatalities. From 2010 to 2011, there was a 1.7 percent decrease in the amount of highway traffic fatalities from 32,885 to 32,310 people. The overall 1.7 percent decrease for the year marked the lowest fatality rate since 1949. From 2005 to 2011, there was a total decreased of 26 percent from the 2005 fatality rate of 42,708.
Only a few billion more miles
From 2011 to 2012, there was only a 9.7 billion increase in the number of miles driven. From 2010 to 2011, United States drivers drove about 35.7 billion fewer miles. This was due to low gas prices and the recession, according to the Washington Post. Driving in 2011 was at its lowest point since 2003.
This year's quantity of traffic deaths really surprised the Governors Highway Safety Association executive director Barbara Harsha.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
Massive traffic death increase
The significant increase in car accidents resulting in traffic deaths reportedly came as a surprise to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration officials, who have been keeping track of quarterly fatality rates linked to traffic accidents since 1975. The first three months of 2012 witnessed the largest surge in traffic fatalities since 1979, noted The Detroit News. The rate of traffic deaths for every 100 million miles of automobile travel in the United States increased to 1.10 traffic fatalities per 100 million miles logged, higher than the 0.98 per 100 million miles from the first quarter of 2011.
If you would like exact numbers, there was an increase in death rates from 6,720 for the 2011 first quarter to 7,630 fatalities in the first quarter of 2012. For the past seven years, the road deaths in the country have been decreasing. This year has broken that record.
Possible factors
Professionals believe that a warmer than normal winter across the nation translated to more drivers on the roads. Typically, the cold winter months and related treacherous road conditions keep more drivers at home.
"However, the winter of 2012 was also unseasonably warmer than usual in most areas of the country," noted the NHTSA in an official statement. "Consequently, the fatality rate for the first quarter should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration released a report in May 2012 looking at the 2011 traffic fatalities. From 2010 to 2011, there was a 1.7 percent decrease in the amount of highway traffic fatalities from 32,885 to 32,310 people. The overall 1.7 percent decrease for the year marked the lowest fatality rate since 1949. From 2005 to 2011, there was a total decreased of 26 percent from the 2005 fatality rate of 42,708.
Only a few billion more miles
From 2011 to 2012, there was only a 9.7 billion increase in the number of miles driven. From 2010 to 2011, United States drivers drove about 35.7 billion fewer miles. This was due to low gas prices and the recession, according to the Washington Post. Driving in 2011 was at its lowest point since 2003.
This year's quantity of traffic deaths really surprised the Governors Highway Safety Association executive director Barbara Harsha.
"While it is too early to draw conclusions about the data and the reasons for the increase, the strengthening economy and the warm winter may be factors," she said. "Any increase in traffic deaths is unacceptable and we remain absolutely committed to working with our partners at NHTSA and across the country to keep the roadways safe."
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