U.S. road deaths decline, but motorcycle deaths increase

This story has been reported in pieces in recent weeks, as statistics from states dribbled in. Now it's official: 2007 saw a 3.9% decline in road deaths since last year, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The total number of deaths in the U.S. was 41,059, the lowest it has been since 1994. In California, the number of road deaths fell from 4,240 in 2006 to 3,974 in 2007, a 6.3% decline. The last time that California had fewer than 4,000 road deaths was 2001.

Overall, 35 of the 50 states reported fewer road deaths in '07 than in '06. Mary Peters, the secretary of USDOT, credited increased law enforcement and safer vehicles. The number of victims of alcohol-related crashes also fell from 13,491 in '06 to 12,998 in '07, a decline of 3.7%.

In addition, pedestrian deaths decreased from 4,795 in '06 to 4,654 in '07 and cycling deaths were down from 772 in '06 to 698 last year.

However, there were 5,154 motorcycle deaths in 2007 -- the highest number since the federal government began tracking deaths in 1975. That was a 6.6% increase from 2007 and represented 13% of all fatalities nationwide.

Tim Buche, president of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation, said that several factors may be at work. "First of all, we really ask car drivers to look out for us and respect our rights in the traffic mix," he said. "We are more vulnerable and it's important for them to give us our space."

Buche also said that too many motorcyclists are still not taking safety courses and cited federal statistics showing that speeding was a factor in 27% of motorcycle deaths and drunk riding a factor in 16% of fatal crashes. He also pointed to the fact that as gas prices have climbed in the last year, many people are returning to riding without updating their skills -- and are finding traffic has changed in recent years, with more high-profile vehicles on the road.

Twenty states have laws requiring all motorcyclists to wear helmets, 27 have laws requiring some riders wear helmets (usually younger riders) and three states -- Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire -- have no helmet laws, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

More detailed statistics from California are expected to be released in the next few weeks, according to the state Office of Traffic Safety. Spokesman Chris Cochran said that provisional numbers show that motorcycle deaths also increased in California by 32 -- from 433 in '06 to 465 last year.

As for the overall decline in road deaths, Cochran said there didn't appear to be any one factor.

"Seat belt use has gone way up, the cars are better, the airbags and seat belts are better," he said. "DUI arrests are up, but I can't tell you how much. We're not only seeing more arrests, we're seeing the results of deterrence -- we're doing a lot more sobriety checkpoints."

-- Steve Hymon

Photo: Lori Shepler / LAT

USDOT PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters Announces Historic Drop in Highway Fatalities and Rate
Motorcycle fatalities still rising, Secretary Peters says, while announcing increased safety, drunk driving outreach and enforcement efforts

WASHINGTON – The number of people who died on the nation’s roads dropped again last year, reaching historically low levels, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.

Secretary Peters said that in 2007, the overall number of traffic fatalities fell to 41,059, the lowest number since 1994. In addition, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.37, the lowest fatality rate on record, she noted.

The Secretary added that 2.49 million people were injured in highway crashes last year, the lowest seen since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting injury data in 1988.

“Thanks to safer vehicles, aggressive law enforcement and our efforts, countless families were spared the devastating news that a loved one was not coming home last year,” Secretary Peters said. “You can be sure that we’re not stopping here, the quest is not over until that bottom line number is zero.”

She noted, for example, that motorcycle safety continues to be a problem. Motorcycle fatalities now account for 13 percent of all fatalities and, in 2007 alone, the number of motorcycle riders or passengers killed on the nation’s roads increased 6.6 percent over the previous year, the Secretary said.

To address these challenges, Secretary Peters announced the launch of new advertisements that focus on motorcycle safety and drunk driving. They can be viewed at http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/planners/crackdown2008/planner/index.cfm

Tomorrow, the Department will kick off its annual impaired driving enforcement crackdown called, “Drunk Driving. Over the limit. Under Arrest.” The effort runs through Labor Day.

During today’s announcement, made outside of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District headquarters, Secretary Peters viewed a motorcycle safety demonstration.

Secretary Peters added that the Department will continue its efforts to combat impaired driving, increase safety belt use and improve motorcycle safety.

“As these new statistics show, we are making progress, but far too many of our friends, neighbors and family members are still getting killed or seriously injured,” Secretary Peters said.

The Department collects crash statistics annually from 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to produce annual reports on fatalities and injuries. To view the 2007 report in its entirety, please visit
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811017.PDF

Comments

[Ajlouny & Associates]

After reading this blog I wonder if there is a rise in motorcycle deaths because it is the alternative method of commuting because of the rising cost of fuel.

[Stephen beck]

“DUI Fatalities Down Nationwide and in 32 States, Says U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters,” declared the headline. “Announcement Comes as Federal, State and Local Governments Launch Massive Enforcement Crackdown and Advertising Blitz for Labor Day Weekend.”

That’s from a Dept. of Transportation press release dated August 28, 2008. The DOT propaganda was dutifully parroted in hundreds of newspapers around the country, including The Detroit News, which printed an edited Associated Press version on August 29.

The problem is, the DOT press release issued a half-truth, which is recklessly close to being a blatant lie. The unmentioned other half is that the number of traffic deaths overall declined to the lowest level since 1994. Americans are driving less – total Vehicle Miles Traveled also dropped. Less traveling means fewer traffic accidents. But those pertinent facts aren’t in the press release or the AP story.

From 2006 to 2007, overall traffic deaths declined 3.9 percent. Within that total are “alcohol-related” fatalities, which dropped 3.7 percent. But Transportation Secretary Mary Peters yanked the 3.7 percent out of context and declared:

“But as good as this progress is, in this day and age there is simply no excuse for someone to drink and then drive,” said Peters.

There has been no progress and in this day and age it is not illegal to drink then drive. Peters is playing the numbers to rationalize the “Massive Enforcement Crackdown” and the $13 million propaganda campaign euphemistically called the “Advertising Blitz.”

Here’s more much-needed context using NHTSA numbers from 2004: Of drivers in accidents, 127 thousandths of 1 percent (.127%) were drinkers involved in fatal accidents, and most of the deaths were the drinkers.

Get more info at http://www.dammdrinker.com

Stephen Beck

[ridley]

With all the cheap motorcycles being produced today by the likes of China, odds are pretty good motorcycle deaths would go up as well.

[GEAH]

The raw number of deaths doesn't really mean much. The relevant figure is deaths per mile driven/ridden.

C'mon, guys. Do your jobs (well).

[owlafaye]

Automobiles can be made safer. However, mandatory driver safety classes is a good answer also. High speed limits are not the problem but rather the inattentive, the poor drivers and a careless disregard for the rights of others. I have had people crash into me and then they firmly rage at me and the police when they are cited for poor driving. Irresponsible drivers will attend mandatory, periodic safety classes along with everyone else if it is made into law.