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A bad traffic safety trend is afoot, with pedestrians at-risk

by | Nov 14, 2013 | Car Accidents

There are many working parts when it comes to the entire goal of traffic safety. There are motorists, some on motorcycles and others in SUVs. There are pedestrians and bicyclists. There are traffic laws, some new some old. There are drunk drivers, distracted drivers and simply drivers who make dumb decisions.

It is the goal of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see the traffic safety landscape of the country and find ways to reduce dangers that prove to be causing injuries and deaths related to traffic accidents. Based on fatal accident reports from 2012, there are some clear areas in need of improvement:

The NHTSA reports indicate the following:

  • Motorcyclists who don’t wear helmets are more likely to be killed in motorcycle accidents.
  • More bicyclists and pedestrians were killed in accidents last year than in 2011.
  • The rate of drunk driving accidents increased last year compared to in 2011. 

While the above accident trends are troubling, the NHTSA does report that 2013 could prove to be a safer year for U.S. motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Of course, the holidays are just around the corner and this time of year tends to involve more accidents due to an increase in motor vehicle travel and alcohol consumption.

Of course, safety officials are hoping for the best and that traffic safety efforts will mean fewer traffic fatalities by the end of the year and for years to follow. Even the best of authorities’ efforts, however, don’t always stop negligence among drivers. When someone becomes a victim of that negligence and is injured or killed in an auto accident, he or his family have legal rights that should be discussed with a personal injury lawyer.

Source: Los Angeles Times, “U.S. traffic deaths up for first time since 2005, safety agency says,” Jerry Hirsch, Nov. 14, 2013

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