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Monday, January 05, 2009
New Data Reveals Record Low Annual Highway Fatalities
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Says Nation’s Roads Safer Than Ever
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters recently reported that the number of people killed in automobile crashes is expected to reach a new record low in 2008. The first 10 months of this year show a nearly 10 percent drop in highway traffic deaths.
Secretary Peters made the announcement in Kansas City where she also outlined important safety standards that have been achieved across all areas of transportation.
“Our focus on safety – from our highways, railways, seaways and airways – has led to one of the safest periods in our nation’s transportation history,” said Secretary Peters. “Every American can be more confident than ever they will arrive at their destination safe and sound.”
According to Secretary Peters, the new fatality data marks the first time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can project fatality figures before the end of the calendar year. Using new electronic data gathering methods, the Department is making projections in almost real time to “give safety professionals the data they need to keep motorists safe,” the Secretary said.
Early 2008 estimates show that 31,110 people perished on U.S. roads from January through October, compared to 34,502 in 2007 during that same 10-month time period. What’s more, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicles miles traveled for the first nine months of 2008 is 1.28, compared to 1.37 for 2007.
“For the second year in a row we are seeing historic lows in deaths on our nation’s roads,” said Secretary Peters. “While we are encouraged by these declines, our work is not nearly complete in making our safe transportation network even safer.”
NHTSA collects annual crash statistics from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to create annual reports on traffic fatality trends. The agency will be updating 2008 estimates regularly as more data becomes available. The final counts for 2008 will be made available in the summer of 2009. To view the preliminary fatality statistics visit: http://nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/NCSA/Content/RNotes/2008/811054.pdf
For more information on important transportation safety benchmarks in the United States, please visit: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/SafetyFactSheet.htm
Is your teen a safe driver? The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has developed a new Teen Injury Prevention course to emphasize driving safety for teenagers. For more information, including a Driver Education a Driver Education Book for Parents, visit www.safedriver.com.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters recently reported that the number of people killed in automobile crashes is expected to reach a new record low in 2008. The first 10 months of this year show a nearly 10 percent drop in highway traffic deaths.
Secretary Peters made the announcement in Kansas City where she also outlined important safety standards that have been achieved across all areas of transportation.
“Our focus on safety – from our highways, railways, seaways and airways – has led to one of the safest periods in our nation’s transportation history,” said Secretary Peters. “Every American can be more confident than ever they will arrive at their destination safe and sound.”
According to Secretary Peters, the new fatality data marks the first time the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) can project fatality figures before the end of the calendar year. Using new electronic data gathering methods, the Department is making projections in almost real time to “give safety professionals the data they need to keep motorists safe,” the Secretary said.
Early 2008 estimates show that 31,110 people perished on U.S. roads from January through October, compared to 34,502 in 2007 during that same 10-month time period. What’s more, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicles miles traveled for the first nine months of 2008 is 1.28, compared to 1.37 for 2007.
“For the second year in a row we are seeing historic lows in deaths on our nation’s roads,” said Secretary Peters. “While we are encouraged by these declines, our work is not nearly complete in making our safe transportation network even safer.”
NHTSA collects annual crash statistics from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to create annual reports on traffic fatality trends. The agency will be updating 2008 estimates regularly as more data becomes available. The final counts for 2008 will be made available in the summer of 2009. To view the preliminary fatality statistics visit: http://nhtsa.gov/staticfiles/DOT/NHTSA/NCSA/Content/RNotes/2008/811054.pdf
For more information on important transportation safety benchmarks in the United States, please visit: http://www.dot.gov/affairs/SafetyFactSheet.htm
Is your teen a safe driver? The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has developed a new Teen Injury Prevention course to emphasize driving safety for teenagers. For more information, including a Driver Education a Driver Education Book for Parents, visit www.safedriver.com.
Labels: auto fatalities, highway
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Driving Decline Reaches Record
U.S. Drivers Log 100 Billion Fewer Miles Last Year
Despite a drop gas prices, drivers recorded 9 billion fewer miles on the nation's roads in October, suggesting the driving downturn that began a year ago is caused by more than just energy costs.
Recently released Federal Highway Administration data reveals the number of miles driven dropped 3.5 percent in October compared with the same month in 2007. Between November 2007, when the driving decline commenced, and October, U.S. drivers logged 100 billion fewer miles. The nation has never experienced a larger continuous decline in driving.
According to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices averaged $3.15 a gallon in October, down from a high of $4.09 in July.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said, "The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping confirms that America's travel habits are fundamentally changing."
The data show that a block of eight states and Washington, D.C. - the South Atlantic - experienced the largest decline in October of any region, 5 percent fewer vehicle miles. The 8.4 percent driving decline in Montana was the largest of any state, followed by Utah with 7.4 percent, and South Carolina with 6.7 percent.
The driving data is collected by highway administration from more than 4,000 automatic traffic recorders operated around-the-clock by state highway agencies.
Subways, buses, commuter rail and light-rail systems have reported record increases in ridership since the driving decline began. The nation's intercity passenger railroad, Amtrak, said it transported the highest number of passengers and brought in the most revenue during fiscal 2008 in its 37-year history.
David Goldberg, a spokesman for Transportation for America, a coalition of groups pressing for more alternatives to driving, said the economic crisis is likely an important factor in the driving decline.
"We regularly see fewer trips being made in economic downturns," Goldberg said. "I think when we probe these numbers we'll find that a lot of people have figured out how to telework or how to go into the office fewer days. And having experienced that and made that work, I think they'll continue to save the money and the time and effort and reduce some of those trips."
Peters expressed concern that the decline in driving is creating a gap between federal gas tax revenues and the government's commitments to fund state and local highway construction and repair projects. To cover an expected shortfall in the fund, Congress made an emergency infusion of $8 billion earlier this year from the general treasury.
"As driving decreases and vehicle fuel efficiency continues to improve, the long-term viability of the Highway Trust Fund grows weaker," Peters said.
According to federal safety officials, auto fatalities dropped almost 10 percent in 2008 through October, a trend that is no doubt influenced by the driving decline.
Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.
Despite a drop gas prices, drivers recorded 9 billion fewer miles on the nation's roads in October, suggesting the driving downturn that began a year ago is caused by more than just energy costs.
Recently released Federal Highway Administration data reveals the number of miles driven dropped 3.5 percent in October compared with the same month in 2007. Between November 2007, when the driving decline commenced, and October, U.S. drivers logged 100 billion fewer miles. The nation has never experienced a larger continuous decline in driving.
According to the Energy Information Administration, gas prices averaged $3.15 a gallon in October, down from a high of $4.09 in July.
Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said, "The fact that the trend persists even as gas prices are dropping confirms that America's travel habits are fundamentally changing."
The data show that a block of eight states and Washington, D.C. - the South Atlantic - experienced the largest decline in October of any region, 5 percent fewer vehicle miles. The 8.4 percent driving decline in Montana was the largest of any state, followed by Utah with 7.4 percent, and South Carolina with 6.7 percent.
The driving data is collected by highway administration from more than 4,000 automatic traffic recorders operated around-the-clock by state highway agencies.
Subways, buses, commuter rail and light-rail systems have reported record increases in ridership since the driving decline began. The nation's intercity passenger railroad, Amtrak, said it transported the highest number of passengers and brought in the most revenue during fiscal 2008 in its 37-year history.
David Goldberg, a spokesman for Transportation for America, a coalition of groups pressing for more alternatives to driving, said the economic crisis is likely an important factor in the driving decline.
"We regularly see fewer trips being made in economic downturns," Goldberg said. "I think when we probe these numbers we'll find that a lot of people have figured out how to telework or how to go into the office fewer days. And having experienced that and made that work, I think they'll continue to save the money and the time and effort and reduce some of those trips."
Peters expressed concern that the decline in driving is creating a gap between federal gas tax revenues and the government's commitments to fund state and local highway construction and repair projects. To cover an expected shortfall in the fund, Congress made an emergency infusion of $8 billion earlier this year from the general treasury.
"As driving decreases and vehicle fuel efficiency continues to improve, the long-term viability of the Highway Trust Fund grows weaker," Peters said.
According to federal safety officials, auto fatalities dropped almost 10 percent in 2008 through October, a trend that is no doubt influenced by the driving decline.
Along with motor vehicle safety, driver education helps ensure the safety of Americans. Whether you're getting your Commercial Drivers License, your Learner's Permit, or your Motorcycle License, America's Driver's License Headquarters is TestQuestionsandAnswers.com.
Labels: auto fatalities, driving, traffic safety
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