Traffic fatalities are up 14 percent this year, according to a study just out from the National Safety Council (NSC).
From a high of 43,510 fatalities in 2005, traffic deaths had declined by 25 percent, to 32,719, in 2013. In the first six months of 2015, however, approximately 19,000 people have lost their lives in vehicle collisions. If the trend continues, fatalities will exceed 40,000 for the year, since higher than average fatalities usually occur during the summer months.
What’s behind this increase? Several things, according to the NSC: the unemployment rate has gone down, the economy has improved, and the price of gasoline has fallen. All this has led to more people on our highways and interstates.
In addition, some states have raised their speed limits over time. According to the Governors’ Highway Safety Association, 16 states now have maximum speed limits of 75 MPH, and in three states, the maximum legal speed is 80 MPH.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration cites speeding as one of the top 10 causes for commercial vehicle collisions,” says Tom O’Connell, National Accounts Manager for DriverCheck, Inc. “Speeding is involved in 23 percent of collisions. Speed and increased truck size are a deadly combination. As an example, an 80,000-pound truck increases its force impact exponentially as speed increases.”
Another reason for the increase in fatalities is distracted driving. Multiple studies have shown that the use of cell phones while driving—even by those using hands-free headsets—increases the likelihood of a collision by 400 percent. In a study of approximately 100 professional drivers over the period of one year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration determined that a texting driver is 22 times more likely to have a collision than a non-texting driver.
While data from 2013 showed 3,154 highway deaths due to distractions, texting was the leading distraction, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. “Fatalities and serious collisions due to distracted driving are increasing at alarming rates in 2015 for both commercial and non-commercial drivers,” says O’Connell. “At DriverCheck, we see that distracted driving is the fastest increasing complaint from the public across many of the fleets that we serve.”
There is some encouraging data. Fewer fatalities are related to drunk driving and to teen driving, and more people are using seat belts, according to Deborah A. P. Hersman, president of the NSC.
DriverCheck, originator of the “Hows My Driving” industry, has the following tips for reducing vehicle-related collisions:
Avoid any activity that could cause distracted driving—especially cell phone use and texting.
Remember that the amount of alcohol you can drink and still drive safely is “none”. Even small amounts of alcohol can reduce your reaction time in emergency situations.
Make sure everyone in the vehicle has a seat belt properly buckled and adjusted before you put the vehicle into gear.
Remember that there is a direct correlation between increased speed limits and traffic fatalities. Even if driving at a high rate of speed is legal, it may not be safe, especially under certain road and weather conditions.
For more information about how to decrease collisions in your commercial fleet, contact DriverCheck, providing guaranteed How’s My Driving and driver training services since 1986.
