US road safety improvement

The US Department of Transportation reports that road deaths fell by 9.7% to 33,808 in 2009, compared with 37,423 in 2008.
March 1, 2012 Read time: 1 min
The 2364 US Department of Transportation reports that road deaths fell by 9.7% to 33,808 in 2009, compared with 37,423 in 2008. Traffic deaths in the US are now at the lowest level since 1950. Analysts say the drop reflects improved safety features in cars, better enforcement of drink driving laws and more people wearing seat belts.

The rate of deaths per 160 million km travelled dropped to a record low of 1.13 deaths in 2009. Alcohol-impaired driving deaths were also down 7.4% to 10,839, while motorcycle fatalities dropped 16% to 4,462. The estimated average distance travelled by motorists rose 0.2%.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • East African authorities trying to cut spiraling road death rates
    December 10, 2013
    Road fatality rates are rising in East Africa, despite attempts to stem the tide – Shem Oirere writes When a passenger bus in Kenya killed 42 people on August 29th 2013, it coincided with the release of a World Health Organisation (WHO) report that painted a grim picture of the status of road safety in East Africa. The accident at Ntulele shopping centre along the Nairobi-Narok highway, 90km from capital Nairobi, occurred when the bus heading to western Kenya lost control and crashed. The driver is said to
    Read More
  • Luxemburg meets road safety target
    March 2, 2012
    Official data for Luxemburg, one of Europe's smallest nations, suggests that the country is on track to achieve its road safety targets during this year.
    Read More
  • UK average speed camera installation proving successful
    January 27, 2015
    Data from the A9 route in Scotland shows that the installation of average speed camera technology is helping cut crashes. This is Europe’s longest single enforcement scheme, with the technology having been installed along a 220km stretch of the A9 in Scotland. Figures from the route show that the average speed enforcement scheme, which uses SPECS technology supplied by Vysionics, is helping cut casualties while improving journey reliability and driver behaviour.
    Read More
  • ETSC highlights European safety improvements
    May 30, 2012
    The European Transport Safety Commission’s (ETSC) 16th Road Safety Report measures progress made in EU countries since 2001 in tackling excessive speed, drink-driving and non-use of seat belts (the three biggest causes of road fatalities). It is published as the EU discusses priorities for the forthcoming Road Safety Action Programme for the next ten years. Available data shows that drivers have slowed down since 2001. Best progress has been made on highways (only up to 30% of drivers now exceed the speed l
    Read More

Highlighted Content