There are few things more devastating than losing a loved one to a car accident. Car accident fatalities not only destroy lives, but they also incur a tremendous amount of financial burden upon the victim’s family. To better understand the severity of today’s driving standards and the impact it is having upon the accident rate, below is some useful information that puts everything into perspective.
Traffic Fatalities are on the Rise
First and foremost, according to News Day the death toll related to car accidents is on the rise since 2012. The death toll in 2012 was 33,561 and has increased 3.3% since previous years. This is an alarming phenomenon that has been puzzling both law enforcement and experts, as there seems to be little that may have sparked the shift. This ongoing problem only works to reinforce the idea that new and more stringent standards are needed if states are to protect their citizens that are on the road.
The 2012 figure has since seen a continuing rise in 2013, jumping to over 35,000 traffic related deaths. When taking into consideration that NSC only takes into account traffic related deaths that occur on public roads, it is possible that this figure is even more troubling that it seems.
Most Affected
When it comes to traffic related deaths, it seems that certain age groups are more prone to these types of accidents. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, individuals between the ages of 15-24 have a higher crash fatality rate than the rest of the population. This can be attributed to a number of factors, such as reckless driving, alcohol related deaths, recreational drug use, and the use of electronic devices while driving. One resource analyzed the impact of drug use when driving. As of 2014, fatal car crashes due to drugs have tripled in the United States. It is now occurring that every 1 in 9 traffic related deaths is related to drug use.
The Outcome
As evident from the above information, it traffic related deaths are becoming an exceedingly serious issue. With law enforcement and experts still analyzing and attempting to address the problem, it has come upon state residents to seek their own resource in response to a loved one being involved in an accident. Also, accident prevention is possible by being informed, careful, and aware while driving.
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