The numbers are out and traffic deaths went up again last year, with almost 2,000 more people dying in auto accidents than the previous year. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 37,461 people died in auto accidents in 2016.
That number is the highest it’s been since 2007. It’s a 5.6% increase from last year, and according to analysts, there are a few reasons why the fatality rate is increasing.
One factor was the rebounding economy. As the economy improved, the general reduction of highway fatalities of the past decade began to reverse starting in 2014. More people working meant more drivers on the road, and more vehicle miles traveled (VMTs). But the rise can’t only be blamed on the increased traffic on the road. Not only did Americans drive more in 2016 than the previous year, but the number of deaths per VMT increased by 2.6%.
Perhaps surprisingly, the increase cannot be blamed on distracted driving which actually went down last year. Instead an increase in drunk driving, speeding, and not wearing seatbelts were contributing factors in by far the most fatal crashes – and all showed an increase from the previous year.
NHTSA’s 2016 data shows that:
- Distraction-related deaths (3,450 fatalities) decreased by 2.2 percent;
- Drowsy-driving deaths (803 fatalities) decreased by 3.5 percent;
- Drunk-driving deaths (10,497 fatalities) increased by 1.7 per¬cent;
- Speeding-related deaths (10,111 fatalities) increased by 4.0 percent;
- Unbelted deaths (10,428 fatalities) increased by 4.6 percent;
- Motorcyclist deaths (5,286 fatalities – the largest number of motorcyclist fatalities since 2008) increased by 5.1 percent;
- Pedestrian deaths (5,987 fatalities – the highest number since 1990) increased by 9.0 percent; and
- Bicyclist deaths (840 fatalities – the highest number since 1991) increased by 1.3 percent.
The number of fatalities in crashes involving large trucks also went up to 4,317. Of those, 722 were occupants of the trucks.
According to the NHTSA report, the estimated “comprehensive cost” of all traffic deaths in 2016 was $836 billion.
Source: nhtsa, ehstoday, americanshipper, cbsnews, bloomberge, theverge, fleetowner
Shogun says
5987 pedestrian deaths? Is it possible to have automated shoes? Come on Nike, Adidas, someone jump on this technology!
Shogun says
Oh, and automated bicycles to eliminate those deaths too.
Jason Aho says
Drunk driving, unbelted occupants and speeding accounted for over 10,000 deaths each while accidents involving big trucks claimed just over 4,000. That’s less than half of any of the other top three categories. Somehow, this data justifies to lawmakers the need to regulate trucking more than it’s ever been regulated before.
I can’t help but wonder how many of the accidents involving big trucks were actually caused by people not driving trucks.
Just in the last year, out of 3 truck accidents that I know of, 2 were written up by law enforcement as no fault to the truck driver. Thankfully, no one was killed, or even injured for that matter. There was an attempt to sue one of the drivers of course. That’s a trend I have seen rising here lately. That’s a whole different subject altogether.
I hope lawmakers will finally look at this data and apply a little common sense and realize that more trucking regulations are not necessary.
Just my 2 cents worth.
John says
A rise in truck related accidents can be attributed to a rise in drivers using ELD’s more. Anyone think of that? Just saying….
Joeziah Babb says
Representative Babin has been trying to bring that up.
Remember these are the same people who make schools gun free zones.
Rufus Crank says
If those numbers are correct, and automobiles cause 83% of all our accidents, then we are only responsible for
900 fatalities out of 37000. While I believe we can reduce this, I am proud of us. 1.4 million of us do nearly as many miles as all the autos combined. If I issue the FMCSA an out of service order for creating an unsafe work environment, then I could save more lives than the elog mandate just by keeping them at home for 30 days.
P Enyeart says
This is a truckers website but the article is general information not trucker specific. It has all of these statistics about the different type of accidents followed by a paragraph stating accidents involving trucks increased to 4317. An increase could have been just one more than the previous year. I wish the article would have stated percent increase of truck involved accidents, like they did for the other type of accidents, in the bullet point section. Plus, have the info broken down to tell how many were the the fault of the truck driver and reason: drowsy, speeding, distracted, etc.
CURT says
Just wait to see the report after ELD’S are imposed on the rest of us how the big truck numbers look’
I would take a guess and say if there is a substantal increase in fatalities’ and I truly believe there will be’ no one will blame it on the real cause just my two cent’s.
Steve says
Where is the traffic enforcement. I have gone several hundred miles and not one patrol car.One huge reason for accidents on the rise is speeders slow down approaching these officers in the median and side ramps,these patrol cars are NOT enforcing the traffic laws. I was a patrol officer myself and I didn’t care if you slowed down,you were pulled over and received a ticket for the violation. The cops today are the most laziest cops ever.these violaters will speed back up after they got clear of the radar.If you’re going to be a traffic cop DO YOUR JOB and enforce these LAWS or stay home!!!!!We don’t need useless cops who don’t do their job.An average day should produce an average of 3 citations per hour,that’s 24 traffic violations on an 8 hour day.NO MORE!!!!
Matt Mims says
I agree TOTALLY! I worked in law enforcement for 9 years. 2 of those years I was assingned to traffic and worked primarily on the interstate. At 13 over I averaged 20+ citations per day. No when I travel the only interstate enforcement I see is for drug interdiction. Jurisdictions are chasing the real dollars for drug seizures. My boss told me “target speeding and aggressive driving let the dope dealers police themselves”. Under his administration traffic fatalities dropped by almost 20%. The net increase in revenue with 4 officers was 1.5million resulting in lower insurance premiums for residents and a 0% increase in taxes with a 20% increase in law enforcement spending for equipment. Now most agencies are not reaping the rewards resulting in the decline in enforcement.
Kris says
I drive Montreal Boston. Before they introduced 10h off service I could drop on bed whenever I felt tired or had headache after it change. Have to drive even if didn’t feel like because I could be stock for 10h right before border to Canada and I leave 45min from border. Now with ELD I will almost hear the clock ticking and probably spent a lots of time in Vermont instead home. With rain or snow will be impossible to do it. Of course there gone be more accidents then they will reduce legal speed for truck to 55MPH to fix it like in Europe and this job will l be only for “mothern slaves” nobady will want to do this job any more and to solve this problem they will take more emigrants from India and Pakistan to fulfill trucking industry that will cost more accidents before they get use to our standards of driving. We had it in Canada. See accidents on 401 on YouTube. Hope I am wrong but it is logical.
Dan J Andrews says
One Ebola case and the continent went nuts. A couple cases of West Nile disease or Zika and no one wants to travel. 37,000+ traffic deaths – get outta my way I’m trying to cut this next car off so I can exit .25 seconds earlier.
Marty says
How do you prove it wasn’t distracted driving when most people leave their brain at home, and they certainly are not going to tell you they were reading the daily newspaper. As far as the truck accidents, if you are stupid enough to think you can tell people when to go to bed and when to go to work day after day, I think you are going to be surprised at the results, apparently it is showing already, on top of poor training.
Truck Driver says
What a lot of people don’t understand is when they talk about truck involved accidents it’s not just tractor trailers. It’s any commercial vehicle license over10001 pounds.
D says
I don’t believe the distracted driving data at all. 8 out of every 10 auto drivers I happen to see or notice in a day are looking at their phones.
And common sense says the numbers of pedestrian and bicycle deaths up? Maybe b/c of distracted driving??
Come on…complete fake news again.