Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[US traffic deaths climb 7.1% in first 9 months of 2012]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/us-traffic-deaths-climb-7-1-in-first-9-months-of-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/us-traffic-deaths-climb-7-1-in-first-9-months-of-2012/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/12/21/us-traffic-deaths-climb-7-1-in-first-9-months-of-2012/#commentsFiled under:

Guard rail with RIP messages and police line tape

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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accident ratesauto safetycar safetyfatalitiesfatalitynational highway traffic safety administrationnhtsatraffic deathstraffic safetyus car crash rateus death rateFri, 21 Dec 2012 10:44:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20409089/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/12/21/us-traffic-deaths-climb-7-1-in-first-9-months-of-2012/20409089/article-detail.xml 20409089 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/rip-police-line-guard-rail_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/12/rip-police-line-guard-rail.jpg <![CDATA[MotoGP 2010: Don't call it a comeback at Misano... just yet [SPOILER]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dani pedrosaDaniPedrosafatalitiesfatalityitalianitalyjorge lorenzoJorgeLorenzoMisanoMotogpMotoGP 2010motogp2010motorcycleNicky HaydenNickyHaydenracing accidentRacingAccidentShoya TomizawaShoyaTomizawavalentino rossivalentino rossi ducatiValentinoRossiValentinoRossiDucatiTue, 07 Sep 2010 17:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19621991/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/09/07/motogp-2010-dont-call-it-a-comeback-at-misano-just-yet-spo/19621991/article-detail.xml 19621991 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/gyi0061498823-630op_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/09/gyi0061498823-630op.jpg <![CDATA[First drop in motorcycle related deaths in a decade, are we really any safer?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/first-drop-in-motorcycle-related-deaths-in-a-decade-are-we-real/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/first-drop-in-motorcycle-related-deaths-in-a-decade-are-we-real/http://www.autoblog.com/2010/04/27/first-drop-in-motorcycle-related-deaths-in-a-decade-are-we-real/#commentsFiled under: , ,



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.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baby boomersBabyBoomersbikerbikersdeathfatalfatalitiesfatalityhelmethelmet lawsHelmetLawshelmetsmotorcyclemotorcycle accidentmotorcycle crashmotorcycle safetyMotorcycleAccidentMotorcycleCrashmotorcyclesMotorcycleSafetyMSFTue, 27 Apr 2010 14:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19455215/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2010/04/27/first-drop-in-motorcycle-related-deaths-in-a-decade-are-we-real/19455215/article-detail.xml 19455215 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/guzzi-wheelie-1272344961_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/04/guzzi-wheelie-1272344961.jpg <![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 http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19083881/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/07/02/study-majority-of-highway-fatalities-caused-by-deficient-road-c/19083881/article-detail.xml 19083881 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/roadqay-crack_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/07/roadqay-crack.jpg -1 2