The U.S. Department of Transportation reported that nearly 33,000 people
died in car crashes in the U.S. in 2010. While this number represents the
fewest people killed in crashes in a single year since 1950, it also represents
an average of 90 lives needlessly lost daily on roads across the country.
Locally, more than 760 people died in car crashes in Arizona in 2010. This
marks a decrease of more than five percent over the year prior, but also
represents an average of two lives lost daily on our state’s roads.
“We’re moving in the right direction when it comes to safety on our roads but
we need to do much more. That’s why AAA is urging motorists to take the first
step and make a personal goal to be a safe driver in 2012,” said Linda Gorman,
director of communications and public affairs for AAA Arizona.
A recent survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety confirms that
Americans desire a greater level of safety than they now experience on our
roads. Yet, many admit that they are part of the problem.
Below are tips to help you drive safer and smarter.
- Slow down. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed is a factor in one in three fatal crashes.
- Startling statistic: 74 percent of drivers consider it unacceptable for a driver to drive more than 15 mph over the speed limit on a freeway, yet 52 percent admit to having done so in the past month.
- Ditch
distractions.
Any behavior that causes a driver to take their eyes off the road, hands
off the wheel and mind off the task at hand is considered a distraction.
Texting requires all three of these things, making it the most dangerous
distraction of all.Startling statistic:
The majority of drivers—94 percent—agree that texting is a serious threat
to their safety, yet more than 35 percent admit to reading a text or email,
and 26 percent admit to sending a message while driving in the past
month.
- Stop on red. According to the Red Means Stop Coalition, there are about 8,000 red-light and stop sign-related crashes each year across the state. Startling statistic: 94 percent of drivers view red light running as unacceptable, yet more than one in three drivers admit doing just that in the past month.
- Buckle up. NHTSA reports that seatbelts save more than 13,000 lives each year. However, in order to be effective, this life saving device must be used each and every time a person drives or rides in a motor vehicle. In Arizona, 35 percent of those killed in crashes in 2010 were unrestrained, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
- Startling statistic: Nearly 1 in 4 drivers said they had driven without wearing their seatbelt in the last month.
As a phoenix car accident lawyer, the statistics are alarming in regards to car accidents and distracted driving. There is no excuse for it. Please always drive safe and smart when out on the roads.
