Autoblog

New Year's Day, not St. Patrick's, most deadly on US roads

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal, Safety

Earlier this month, as part of its conclusions to an investigation into wrong-way driving crashes, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommend ignition interlocks for all those convicted of a DUI. That means every first-time offender couldn't start his car until he had satisfied the breathalyzer attached to his ignition. With the nation's deadliest hours for drunk driving approaching, New Year's Day, the American Automobile Association (AAA) has pointed out the dangers of the holiday and voiced support for the NTSB measure.

The AAA says its own study shows that "nearly eight out of ten Americans support requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders, even if it's their first conviction." Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has put the national rate of repeat DUI offenders at 15 percent, but there's a huge variance: in California nearly eight percent of fatal DUI crashes are repeat offenders and DUI recidivism overall was 24 percent in 2007, whereas in New Mexico in 2011 more than 50 percent of fatal DUI crashes are attributed to repeat offenders. Another stat from MADD is that "The average driver drives drunk 87 times before their first arrest."

There are already 17 states that mandate ignition interlock devices for those convicted of DUI, and the NTSB is asking the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to speed up research into manufacturer-installed interlock devices. It will probably be a while, if ever, before the federal government or the rest of the country follows the lead of those 17 states, but the real point is this: We've made it past the Mayan Apocalypse, so enjoy the new world and be careful behind the wheel come NYE.

Continue reading New Year's Day, not St. Patrick's, most deadly on US roads

New Year's Day, not St. Patrick's, most deadly on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 30 Dec 2012 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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US traffic deaths climb 7.1% in first 9 months of 2012

Michael Harley — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

Less than two weeks ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 2011 traffic fatalities had declined by nearly 2 percent - to the lowest level in more than six decades. Now comes word that the first nine months of 2012 haven't been nearly as positive. According to the government agency's preliminary estimates, traffic deaths through September of this year have risen 7.1 percent when compared to last year's figures - the largest increase for that calendar period since NHTSA began keeping records.

Safety experts point out that US vehicle miles traveled from January 2012 through September 2012 increased by 14.6 billion miles (a 0.6-percent rise) over the same period last year. Those adding up the numbers say that many factors are to blame. Warm weather also increases the quantity of motorcyclists on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalks. A drop in gas prices and an improved economy also means consumers are more likely to drive outside of their daily commute.

Ending on a positive note, today's estimated fatality rate of 1.16 deaths per 100 million miles traveled is still down 21 percent when compared its recent high of 1.45 deaths per 100 million miles in 2005.

US traffic deaths climb 7.1% in first 9 months of 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA says 2011 traffic deaths declined nearly 2%, but on upswing in 2012

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

After a new analysis of 2011's traffic fatality numbers, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were even fewer deaths than previously reported: 32,367 are reported to have died on the road last year, a 1.9-percent drop compared to 2010. Previously the drop had been reported as 1.7 percent. Even more eye-popping, that number is down 26 percent compared to the number of deaths in 2005, and 2011 saw the the lowest number of fatalities since 1949.

We did drive less last year, but mileage decreased by only 1.2 percent so it can't account for all of the difference. On top of that, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles was 1.10, the lowest number ever reported. Looking more closely, there were more motorcyclist, pedestrian, cyclist and large-truck occupant deaths, and accidents attributed to distraction claimed more lives in 2011 than 2010. But drunk driving deaths and deaths in passenger cars and light trucks both declined.

The adjustment will make 2012's numbers go even further in the wrong direction. In the first quarter of this year road fatalities were up 13.5 percent compared to Q1 2011; the half-year number had come down but was still up nine percent. That's the largest half-year increase since such data started being gathered. You can read the NHTSA press release below with more information on last year's numbers.

Continue reading NHTSA says 2011 traffic deaths declined nearly 2%, but on upswing in 2012

NHTSA says 2011 traffic deaths declined nearly 2%, but on upswing in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traffic fatalities see surprise 13.5% jump in 2012

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Safety

Just as safety authorities were lauding the decrease in automobile driver fatalities and lamenting the unchanged motorcycle rider fatalities for 2011, we get news that traffic deaths have risen overall in Q1 of this year by a whopping 13.5 percent. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration puts traffic fatalities at 7,360 people, a rise from 6,720 in the same period last year and representing a jump from 0.98 deaths to 1.10 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The National Safety Council has even higher numbers, declaring there were 8,170 deaths the first three months of this year compared to 7,270 last year.

No one is yet sure of the reason for the jump. A portion of the blame has been put on the warmer-than-usual winter that had led to more people driving. Overall mileage was down in 2011 compared to 2010 by 1.2 percent or 35.7 billion miles. But total driven miles of Q1 this year increased just 1.4 percent. This year's number is even higher than the Q1 number from 2010, when 6,690 traffic deaths were reported by the NHTSA, yet it's still less than every year from 2005-2009. The improving economy has also been cited as a factor.

Importantly, though, NHTSA said that due to special factors the fatality rate so far this year "should not be used to make inferences for the fatality rate for the whole of 2012."

Traffic fatalities see surprise 13.5% jump in 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Allstate adds 'Watch For Motorcycles' signs in more than 30 cities

Danny King — Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Safety, Motorcycle

You might question whether a diamond-shaped yellow sign will make drivers keep an extra eye out for motorcyclists, but if it saves a life, who's to argue?

Insurance company Allstate has added "Watch for Motorcycles" signs at intersections in over 30 cities this year after studying which road markers may be most effective at helping prevent accidents.

One of the signs is in Baltimore, MD at the intersection of Pratt and President Streets, near the city's Inner Harbor. Baltimore is notable because in 2010, the average age of a motorcyclist killed in a traffic accident there was 37 years old, the youngest of any major city and five years below the U.S. average. Overall, almost half of U.S. motorcycle accidents occur at intersections when cars don't see or fail to yield to an oncoming bike.

Motorcycle fatalities have risen the last couple years despite total traffic deaths reaching the lowest point on record. An increase in alcohol-related crashes and untrained riders (higher gas prices got more people out of their cars) are given as the main reasons for the spike in motorcyclist deaths. You can read the complete press release below.

Continue reading Allstate adds 'Watch For Motorcycles' signs in more than 30 cities

Allstate adds 'Watch For Motorcycles' signs in more than 30 cities originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 01 Jul 2012 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motorcycle fatalities stay steady while auto deaths decline

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 25 May 2012 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Motorcycle

The numbers haven't been definitively crunched, but it is expected that the estimated 32,310 traffic fatalities in 2011 were the lowest on record in the 62 years that records have been kept. Yet the good news about the total number of fatalities masks regrettable news for traffic safety authorities: automobile fatalities are down, but motorcycle fatalities are up.

After a steady rise in motorcyclist death rates through the first decade of the new century, numbers fell in 2009 and the beginning of 2010. Observers hoped the trend would continue, but that didn't happen when deaths ticked up slightly over the course of 2010 and stayed steady through 2011.

Causes are varied, from high gas prices leading more people to ride motorcycles to inadequate training for both riders and automobile drivers on how to ply the roads safely. A report breaking down the numbers also "noted that 29 percent of fatally injured riders in 2010 had a blood-alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit, and 35 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding." It didn't, however, indicate how much of those numbers overlapped - how many of those riders were over the limit when they died.

Nor does it look like current developments will allay the trend in the near-term. Only 19 states require riders to wear helmets, Michigan just repealed its compulsory helmet law and five other states are considering such measures. Again, the overall number of fatalities is welcome news considering how many more people and cars there are on the roads now compared to 1949, but the takeaway for motorcyclists is that there is now more reason to be extra careful when you ride.

Motorcycle fatalities stay steady while auto deaths decline originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. D.O.T. says 2010 traffic fatalities lowest they've ever been

Aaron Richardson — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

United States Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that traffic deaths in 2010 were the lowest they've ever been, falling three percent from 2009's record low. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration projections, traffic fatalities fell from 33,808 in 2009 to 32,708 in 2010.

The Department of Transportation and NHTSA see the news as evidence that their public awareness campaigns, and stricter enforcement of traffic laws nationwide are working. According to NHTSA, traffic fatalities have steadily dropped in the last five years, falling 25 percent since 2005.

Specifically, the DOT and NHTSA cited programs like Over the Limit, Under Arrest, Click-it or Ticket and LaHood's anti-distracted driving campaign as contributing factors to the drop in fatalities.

The biggest regional drop was in the Pacific Northwest, where fatalities plummeted 12 percent from last year. Arizona, California and Hawaii tied for second, each dropping 11 percent over 2009.

While we applaud most of the campaigns championed by NHTSA and the DOT, we can't help but think that there are probably some larger factors at work here - namely, that Americans are motoring around in vehicles that are safer than ever before thanks to the proliferation of improved safety systems like stability control. Check out the official press release and associated horn-tooting after the jump.

[Source: NHTSA | Image: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty]

Continue reading U.S. D.O.T. says 2010 traffic fatalities lowest they've ever been

U.S. D.O.T. says 2010 traffic fatalities lowest they've ever been originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]

Devon Brozek — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, Motorcycle, Celebrities, Racing

When Dani Pedrosa left Indianapolis Motor Speedway last week, there's little doubt he was the envy of his fellow MotoGP contenders. The Spaniard clinched victory, proving that he possessed not only the speed, but also the fortitude to truly challenge Jorge Lorenzo. The question on everyone's mind was this: Could Pedrosa and Repsol Honda really mount a solid comeback? Make the jump to find out.

[Source: MotoGP.com | Image: Mirco Lazzari GP/Getty Images]

Continue reading MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]

MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First drop in motorcycle related deaths in a decade, are we really any safer?

Devon Brozek — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, Motorcycle

In a preliminary report, the Governors Highway Safety Association recently indicated a 10% drop in motorcycle related fatalities around the U.S. in 2009. This decline marks the first such improvement in over a decade as deaths have been on the rise consistently from 1997 onward.

Are we really seeing improvement in motorcycle safety, equipment and riding ability? Likely not. As the old saying goes, numbers don't lie, and the drop in fatal injury's comes on the heels of the most extreme decline in motorcycle sales in recent history, which no doubt helped put the brakes on the awful upward trend.

The report goes on to attribute everything from the economy and aging baby boomers to increased training efforts from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation from coast-to-coast. Oh yeah, and we almost forgot the bad weather! Although it may seem that the GHSA can't seem to pick a clear cut reason for the drop, we can only hope history will not repeat itself in this instance, allowing this positive trend to continue. To see the full report and suggestions for increased safety, hit the jump for the release.

[Source: Hell For Leather]

Continue reading First drop in motorcycle related deaths in a decade, are we really any safer?

First drop in motorcycle related deaths in a decade, are we really any safer? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA announces 2009 fatalities lowest since 1954, continue downward trend

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Safety doesn't sell cars. At least that's what Detroit executives walked around saying back in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. The whole of them were convinced that if you even mentioned the word "safety" in a marketing campaign it would imply that cars were unsafe. In fact, it took a crusader like Ralph Nader to stand up to the auto industry and say enough with the death traps, like he did when he published his infamous Unsafe at Any Speed (only one chapter is about the Corvair!) in 1965. Like him or loathe, if you've walked away from a serious car accident in the last forty or so years, you probably owe him.

And it looks like many more of us have been walking away from car accidents lately. According to a new report from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the death rate for calendar 2009 plummeted by a frankly significant 8.9-percent from 2008. 33,963 Americans were killed on our roads last year, as opposed to the 37,261 people that perished in 2008. Still terrible, but much, much better. In fact, 2009's fatality rate (measured with the totally morbid metric, "death per mile") is actually the lowest such rate since 1954. Were cars safer back then? No, not even kinda sorta. It's just that a much smaller percentage of the population drove back then. The Interstate system was still two years off, so road trips were rare and mostly for truckers and beatniks.

Why the drop in the death rate? Many factors. Cars are getting safer. More air bags, crumple zones, better construction techniques, stability control, better tire technology - all of it is adding up to help prevent accidents, or at least make them more survivable. Also, campaigns like "Click It or Ticket" have increased seatbelt usage, and cops nationwide are cracking down harder than ever on drunk drivers. However, there's one other reason the death rate fell so far in 2009: people drove less. Meaning that if our economy recovers and we start driving more, the death rate could - and probably will - increase. Make the jump to read the press release.

[Source: NHTSA | Image: Bantam Dell Publishing Group]

Continue reading NHTSA announces 2009 fatalities lowest since 1954, continue downward trend

NHTSA announces 2009 fatalities lowest since 1954, continue downward trend originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Raising national speed limit has resulted in 12,500 deaths

Chris Shunk — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

In 1995, highway speed limits increased from a nation-wide 55 mph to 65, 70 or 75 mph, depending on the state, and most Americans were thrilled. The obvious benefit of the change was people could legally get to where they wanted to go, but according to a new study, the downside has been an alarming increase in accidents and deaths.

The University of Illinois School of Public Health studied accidents from 1995 to 2005 to determine the impact on the speed increase on accidents. The study examined deaths and injuries in fatal car crashes on rural interstate highways, urban interstates and non-interstate road, and found the speed increase resulted in 2,545 deaths and an additional 36,582 injuries.

All told, the study found that deaths and injuries increased by 3.2% over the ten-year period, while rural road deaths increased by an alarming 9.1%. Lead researcher Lee S. Friedman says the easy way to solve the increases in deaths and injuries would be to drop the speed limit back to 55 mph, adding "Researchers have demonstrated that lower travel speeds and death tolls usually follow lowering of speed limits, and higher travel speeds and death tolls follow increases in speed limits."

Naturally, Friedman points out that the drop in speed would result in decreased fuel consumption and lower greenhouse gasses as well. Studies show that decreased speeds lead to higher volume capacity on freeways as well, as drivers require less distance between vehicles to safely drive.

Not all agree with Friedman's hypothesis, though. Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine, says that while deaths will decrease with a lower speed limit, it'd also gum up everyone's schedule. Others point out that the bulk of the added deaths happened in areas where limits are 70 and 75 mph, and where the limits were 65, the impact was far less severe.

[Source: US News | Image Source: Ian Waldie/Getty]

STUDY: Raising national speed limit has resulted in 12,500 deaths originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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STUDY: Majority of highway fatalities caused by deficient road conditions

Noah Joseph — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:28:00 EST

Filed under: Maintenance, Government/Legal, Safety

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.

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Huh? IIHS says senior motorists in fewer deadly crashes

Chris Shunk — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:01:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Seniors over the age of 70 have long been associated with unsafe driving, with death rates steadily increasing as more elderly hit the road. At least that's what we thought. A new study by IIHS shows that the death rate of elderly drivers has declined by 21% between 1997 and 2006. The decline was far greater than it was with any other age group, which is even more amazing when considering the fact that elderly drivers increased by 10% during that time. Time behind the wheel has increased as well, with seniors logging far more miles than they have in the past. Some reasons for the decline include healthier, more fit seniors and safer drivers. State governments have also been more diligent in getting unfit seniors off the road with regular skills tests. One study shows that seniors are increasingly aware of the dangers of driving, and limiting drive time at night and on the interstate.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Huh? IIHS says senior motorists in fewer deadly crashes originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NHTSA: Back-up cameras are expensive and unreliable

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:27:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Congress asked the NHTSA to put together a report on electronic measures available in vehicles to help prevent fatalities from people being backed over. The NHTSA doesn't have exact stats on how many people are killed in these kinds of accidents because they mostly happen on private property. However, the agency does have a clear take on what it thinks of reversing cameras: they are "expensive, unreliable, and [give] drivers a false sense of security."

Some commentators have taken that to mean that there is something wrong with reversing cameras, in columns with titles like "Rear-View Cameras Not Foolproof." To put it simply: nothing is foolproof. True, there are rear view camera systems that don't provide much field-of-view or no nighttime visibility. And the gigantic backsides of some SUV's can make it difficult to get everything in the rather small screen used for the navi. Nevertheless, rear-view cameras are meant to be an aid to sound driving, not a preventive that can assure you never run over anyone when you reverse as long as you're looking at the screen.

The NHTSA is working on getting better numbers, but in the mean time it "plans to work to improve the use of detection systems to potentially help alert drivers to backovers."

[Source: Yahoo!]

NHTSA: Back-up cameras are expensive and unreliable originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 10:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Surprise, surprise: U.S. ranks 42nd out of 48 countries in deaths per capita

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:25:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., First Drives

When you hear that the US is 42nd out of 48 countries when it comes to number of deaths per capita, it might sound like a good thing. Until you find out that the rankings go from lowest to highest -- which means, yes, that of the measured countries, there are only six places where driving is more deadly than the Land of the Free. (Tip: you might want to avoid driving in Russia and Lithuania for a few more years.)

The posited reasons are varied and numerous, and include the brevity of driver training, lax laws, weak enforcement, no emphasis on public transport, little public awareness, and a lack of Federal legislation. Regardless of the causes, the effect is that it's riskier to get behind the wheel here than it is in the Poland or Estonia. This is despite the fact that cars have gotten exponentially safer, and the US leads the world in the adoption of electronic stability control, said to be "the greatest life-saving technology since the seat belt."

If there's any consolation, it's that the US does considerably better in the number of fatalities per mile driven, where the US comes in at number 11. Before you celebrate, in 1970 the US was number one. Which country has the lowest number of fatalities per capita? Malta.

[Source: New York Times]

Surprise, surprise: U.S. ranks 42nd out of 48 countries in deaths per capita originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM plans to equip all models with rollover air bags

Damon Lavrinc — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:49:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Safety, Crossover, GM

Although rollovers only make up three percent of crashes in the US, they account for over a quarter of all traffic fatalities. General Motors is in the process of investing over $10 million to study the effects of rollover crashes and while doing so, has made a pledge to outfit all their vehicles with rollover-enabled airbags by 2012.

Currently, a little under half of the vehicles sold by GM are equipped with such detection and deployment systems, and although the number of rollover crashes is small in comparison when viewed amidst the majority of crashes, the General thinks that more research is necessary.

[Source: Detroit News]

GM plans to equip all models with rollover air bags originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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