Traffic Fatalities on the Rise

From the Detroit Free Press:

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rate of traffic fatalities is rising at an alarming rate over the first six months of 2015. This is following the rate of traffic fatalities falling to its lowest point in history in 2014. In the first half of this year alone, fatalities are up 8.1%.

What is causing this rise?

NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind says that it’s natural for the number of deadly accidents to increase as the economy recovers, gas prices decline, and Americans drive more miles. Regardless, Rosekind said that the accident rate has increased faster than expected for the miles traveled. He suspects increased texting behind the wheel and other forms of distracted driving are among the likely explanations.

According to Rosekind, state governments could save more lives by adopting stricter laws regulating the use of cell phones, seat belts, and motorcycle helmets.

When looking at the numbers, it’s clear that states can do much more to make their roads safer.

For example, only 24 states, not including Michigan, use cameras to catch drivers running red lights. 16 states still do not have enforcement seat belt laws and 34 states lack seat belt laws for rear seat occupants. Only 19 states have mandatory motorcycle helmets for all riders. Michigan does not.

Michigan is currently ranked 9th in the nation for the most fatal traffic accidents with 901 deaths in 2014.

Michigan changed its motorcycle helmet laws in 2012, and helmets are no longer required to ride legally. However, statistics from the Michigan Traffic Crash Reporting System show that there were 107 motorcycle fatalities reported in 2014, the second-lowest number of fatalities in the last 10 years.

Nonetheless, national statistics are clear. “Helmet laws save lives”, Rosekind says. “States that have rescinded motorcycle helmet laws have seen increases in lives lost and more people injured”.

Rosekind said NHTSA plans to hold five regional meetings next year at cities around the nation to get feedback from drivers and agencies on how best to improve driver safety.

There are going to be multiple approaches to addressing a problem like this. These could include education and outreach, better funding for police departments and highway patrols, or even updating the infrastructure of our roads and highways. But one thing is certain, states, including Michigan, can absolutely do more to update their laws to make our roads safer.