The U.S. has certainly made progress towards reducing motor vehicle crash fatalities, but the country still has a long way to go. According to the latest Vital Signs report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States still has the highest vehicle-related death rate among 19 high-income comparison countries.
In order to come up with a list of high-income countries, the CDC analyzed data compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Each of the countries on the list had to:
- Be a member of OECD
- Meet the World Bank's definition for high income
- Have a population of more than 1 million people
- Regularly report the annual number of motor vehicle deaths and miles traveled
The good news is that crash deaths in the United States were reduced by 31% from 2000 to 2013. And by implementing proven strategies, it is reasonable to expect further progress to be made. In fact, experts believe that the current number of motor vehicle crash fatalities that occur each day could be reduced by half.
Motor Vehicle Crash Fatalities Stats
Unfortunately, about 90 people die each day from motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. This is on par with Belgium, the country with the second highest death rate after the United States. But if the U.S. had at least matched Belgium's automotive death rate, about 12,000 fewer lives would have been lost in 2013. Also, an estimated $140 million in direct medical costs might have been saved.
If the U.S. could have claimed the same vehicle-related death rate as Sweden (the country with the lowest crash death rate in the study) in 2013, approximately 24,000 fewer lives would have been lost. And for medical costs, around $281 million may have been averted.
On the topic of making American roads safer, Debra Houry, M.D, M.P.H., director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, had this to say:
"It is important to compare us not to our past but to our potential. Seeing that other high-income countries are doing better, we know we can do better too. People of our nation deserve better and safer transport."
And in order for more lives to be saved on the roads, these are the stats that must be changed:
- The U.S. currently has the most motor vehicle crash fatalities per 100,000 people and per 10,000 registered vehicles.
- Out of the countries studied, the United States has the second highest percentage of deaths involving alcohol (31%).
- The U.S. also has the third lowest front seat belt use (87%).
The researchers involved with this Vital Signs report concluded that the "proven strategies" that would eliminate many motor vehicle crash fatalities in the U.S. are actually pretty simple. They are really just safety measures that drivers should already be practicing.
How to Save Lives on U.S. Roads
The logic is very simple. People lose their lives in automobile accidents, so if crashes can be prevented, lives will be saved. Erin Sauber-Schatz, Ph.D., M.P., transportation safety team lead, CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, has stated:
"It's unacceptable for 90 people to die on our roads each day, especially when we know what works to prevent crashes, injuries and deaths. About 3,000 lives could be saved each year by increasing seat belt use to 100 percent, and up to 10,000 lives could be saved each year by eliminating alcohol-impaired driving."
What can you do to help prevent accidents and fatalities while driving? Researchers recommend the following:
- Use seat belts in both front and rear seats.
- Correctly use the proper car seats and booster seats for children through at least age 8.
- Never drink and drive.
- Obey all speed limits.
- Don't use your cell phone or allow yourself to be distracted in any other way while driving.
It really would be this simple to make America a much safer place for drivers and passengers. So, make a conscious effort every day to develop and practice good habits when you are behind the wheel.
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