Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/#commentsFiled under: , ,



What would you think to be the leading contributor to fatalities in car crashes here in the States? Failure to use seat belts? Speeding? Drunk driving? Think again. According to a new study commissioned by Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (PIRE), the leading cause of highway fatalities is deficient road conditions. In fact, the study asserts, with a roadway-related crash occurring every minute on American streets, inadequate roadway infrastructure is responsible for the majority of highway fatalities in the United States and over a third of injuries incurred in non-fatal crashes as well.

Given the state of many roadways, you might think that the situation - like America's road network - is beyond repair. However, the study, entitled "On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of Deficient Roadways," assesses the financial cost alone of crashes caused by these substandard roadways - as a whopping $217 billion annually, including medical bills, loss of productivity and property damage. That's more than three-and-a-half times the $59 billion which local, state and federal governments in the United States invest in improving America's roadways. PIRE's solution? Improving road conditions, of course, including better signage and markings, widening shoulders and removing obstacles from roadsides. Follow the jump to read more on PIRE's findings and suggested solutions for what it deems is one of the largest killers in America.

[Source: Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation | Image: STR/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions

STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto accidentauto accidentsAutoAccidentAutoAccidentscar accidentcar accidentscar crashcar crashesCarAccidentCarAccidentsCarCrashCarCrashescause of deathCauseOfDeathdeathdeficient roadwayDeficientRoadwayfatalitiesfatalityhighwayhighway maintenancehighway markingsHighwayMaintenanceHighwayMarkingsPacific Institute for Research and EvaluationPacificInstituteForResearchAndEvaluationpireroad constructionroad maintenanceroad networkroad safetyRoadConstructionRoadMaintenanceRoadNetworkRoadSafetyroadwaysafetysignagetraffic safetyTrafficSafetyThu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Toyota gets 40 lashes with a wet noodle from Japanese government over recalls]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/20/toyota-gets-40-lashes-with-a-wet-noodle-from-japanese-government/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/20/toyota-gets-40-lashes-with-a-wet-noodle-from-japanese-government/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/20/toyota-gets-40-lashes-with-a-wet-noodle-from-japanese-government/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Okay, maybe not a wet noodle, but let's just say the Japanese government's action doesn't carry much weight. The government says that while no laws were broken and technically automaker Toyota Motor Company did nothing wrong, the manufacturer is deserving of a public scolding over its failure to take steps to recall some of its SUV models for a bad steering component that led to a deadly crash in 2004. Rather than take any legal action, the government is using its words to urge Toyota to take steps to review its recall process.

While the public scolding, or "administrative guidance" as it's called, doesn't carry any legal weight, it does represent an image challenge for one of the world's most successful automakers in its home country. Let's just hope that Toyota is thanking its lucky stars that it's only subject to public judgement and not a much more costly fate.

[Source: Detroit News]

Toyota gets 40 lashes with a wet noodle from Japanese government over recalls originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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