Traffic deaths now at lowest EVER for US

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration keeps as many statistics that they can, so many that it would make a baseball statistician go "DANG!". One of the biggies is traffic deaths, and after getting the final tabulations for 2007, the stat that there are 1.37 fatalities per 1 million miles driven is the lowest that is has EVER been since the NHTSA has been keeping this stat.

The organization has cited that less driving (obviously), improvements in safety features in cars including curtain side bags and the like, along with a higher level of enforcement by the law and such campaigns as the "Click it or Ticket" has combined to make this possible. Drunk driving deaths unfortunately still were at a staggering 13,000 deaths for the year (it pangs me to see this statistic that is 100% avoidable), and while the news overall was good, motorcycle drivers have actually seen their deaths go up. Obviously even with the decrease in driving overall, there isn't a lot of safety that can be added with the crotchrockets (always loved that nickname) and the simple fact that there are more registered motorcycle drivers than previously.

It will be really, really interesting to see what the stat will be for 2008--it HAS to be lower. With reports that the amount of miles Americans drive continue to drop double digits from previous years and people driving slower and being better about the environment and gas mileage, I would bet a TON that this number will be even less next year.

Which is a great thing.

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Traffic deaths now at lowest EVER for US

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