The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has evaluated the numbers, and its data says that 2012 was a deadlier year for US motorists than 2011, with a 3.3-percent increase in road fatalities.
33,561 people were killed, with much of the blame being placed on an unseasonably warm winter that put more people behind the wheel than usual. Although 1,082 more people were killed, 72 percent were killed during the first quarter of the year, when snow and cold weather often do their part to keep people off the streets, according to The Detroit News.
Lending credence to the fact that our cars are safer than ever, many of those killed were pedestrians or motorcyclists, with The Detroit News reporting that there was a 7.1-percent increase in motorcyclists killed in 2012, the third year of increases in a row.
There were improvements, though. Automotive News notes that there was a small drop in deaths associated with distracted driving, from 3,360 to 3,328, although 421,000 people – a 9-percent increase over 2011 – were injured due to distracted drivers. Despite all of this, though, 2012 road deaths are near a 60-year-low overall.
"Highway deaths claim more than 30,000 lives each year, and while we've made substantial progress over the past 50 years, it's clear that we have much more work to do," said US Transportation Secretary Anthony Fox.
Everyone has different preferences when it comes to transportation, but there’s one that most share: At one point or another , we are all pedestrians. Unfortunately, pedestrians were one of the few groups of road users to experience an increase in fatalities in the United States in 2011, totaling 4,432 deaths.
Below are tips to help combat pedestrian accidents for both drivers and pedestrians. Working together will lower accidents.
Walkers –
Be predictable. Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available.
• If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
• Keep alert at all times; don’t be distracted by electronic devices that take your eyes (and ears) off the road. (texting while walking?)
• Walk across streets at marked crosswalks or intersections whenever possible. This is where drivers expect pedestrians. Look for cars in all directions – including those turning left or right.
• If a crosswalk or intersection is not available, locate a well-lit area where you have the best view of traffic. Wait for a gap in traffic that allows you enough time to cross safely, and continue to watch for traffic as you cross.
• Never assume a driver sees you. Make eye contact with drivers as they approach you to make sure you are seen.
• Be visible at all times. Wear bright clothing during the day, and wear reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.
• Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways, or backing up in parking lots.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs when walking; they impair your abilities and judgment too.
Drivers –
Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times. Safety is a shared responsibility.
• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or in bad weather.
• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.
• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing that you can’t see. (It is also against the law in Arizona)
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. (Yep. That is against the law too)
• Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street.
• Follow slower speed limits in school zones and in neighborhoods where there are children present.
• Be extra cautious when backing up – pedestrians can move into your path.
Generally, these accidents occur when at least one person is not paying attention. If you are a pedestrian, it is just crucial that you exercise proper precaution.
Remember, if a serious accident occurs, no one wins. But if you are the pedestrian in a car-pedestrian accident, you definitely lose.
Cold weather, distracted drivers, hectic schedules, and impaired drivers make it a prime time for accidents to occur.
The pattern usually starts around Thanksgiving (which is the deadliest travel holiday of the year) and continues on through New Year’s. Drivers should be a little more on the cautious side when driving during this two month stretch.
According to the NHTSA, in 2010, there were over 431 deadly traffic accidents on Thanksgiving Day. This is a horrible statistic and it only gets worse as the majority of the accidents caused during this holiday stretch is due to drunk drivers.
To keep you and your loved ones safe for the Holidays, please take a look at the tips below. They are meant to help keep you safe.
- Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition
- Buckle up. Seatbelts are a no-brainer.
- Slow down. With hectic schedules rising during the Holidays, many forget that regardless of how fast you are driving, you WILL get where you are wanting to go. So do it safetly
- Don’t drink and Drive. This doesn’t just go for the Holidays, but year round. Just don’t do it. It’s not worth it.
- Be well rested and alert while you are on the road. Don’t drive drowsy.
- Don’t tailgate. Time and time again, accidents occur because someone was following too close. Tailgating changes absolutely nothing when you are on the road. So don’t do it.
