Autoblog

Cars made in Brazil blamed for country's high death rate

Zach Bowman — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety, South America

The Detroit Free Press reports the new generation of Brazil-built cars are to blame for the country's high death rate. Thanks to a booming middle class, Brazil is the fourth-largest vehicle market in the world, but four of the country's best-selling models have failed independent crash tests. Couple those machines with the country's notoriously dangerous roads and weather, and Brazil winds up with a traffic death rate nearly four times that of the US when weighted for the disparity in the size of both driving populations.

Automakers, meanwhile, say their products meet or exceed Brazil's safety laws - starting next year, manufacturers will be required to install front airbags and anti-lock brakes. Activists, meanwhile, say those changes aren't enough to make a meaningful impact on the country's death toll. Independent testing found that four of the country's top-selling cars from brands like General Motors, Volkswagen and Fiat received a lowly one-star crash rating.

Compounding the issue is the fact that manufacturers make more money on less safe, inexpensive Brazilian-made cars. The Detroit Free Press reports companies earn a 10-percent profit on vehicles built in Brazil compared to three percent from US-built models and an average of five percent from machines assembled elsewhere. Vehicles imported from other markets are more likely to have safety equipment that meets more stringent standards.

Cars made in Brazil blamed for country's high death rate originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More drivers than ever are dying on US roads

Zach Bowman — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Our sister site, AOL Autos, reports more people are dying in car accidents in the US than ever before. Fatalities jumped by 5.3 percent last year to 34,080 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The increase is due in part to the fact that Americans are also driving more than ever before, covering 0.3-percent more miles in 2012 than 2011. NHTSA says that may be due to the fact that modern vehicles offer better fuel efficiency than before, and thus allow drivers to cover greater distances for the same money.

Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 14.7 percent of all traffic deaths, with 5,000 riders dying last year alone. The Governors Highway Association says many of those deaths could have been prevented with proper helmet laws. Right now, 31 states don't require riders to wear helmets. Pedestrian deaths also increased by 4 percent to 4,280, and deaths attributed to distracted driving jumped by 1.92 percent to 3,331 people.

More drivers than ever are dying on US roads originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 May 2013 07:58:00 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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U.S. traffic deaths rise by 9% in first half of 2012

Zach Bowman — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:40:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Automotive News reports U.S. traffic fatalities have increased by nine percent during the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2011. A total of 16,290 people have died in road accidents between January and June, and while the figures have yet to be verified, they may represent the most deaths during the first six months of a year since 2009.

The data comes courtesy of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which has not ventured a hypothesis on the factors behind the increase. Automotive News indicates other safety groups believe the jump could be attributable to culprits as wide ranging as the weather, the economy and fuel prices. A spike in the popularity of synthetic drugs and texting while driving could also be to blame.

It could be more than a year before NHTSA releases vetted figures, complete with the causes behind them.

U.S. traffic deaths rise by 9% in first half of 2012 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2012 18:40:00 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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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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Traffic deaths in U.S. fall to 60-year low

Zach Bowman — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of fatalities on America's highways is at its lowest level since 1950. The number of deaths in vehicle collisions last year fell by 9.2 percent compared to 2008. As of 2009, the fatality rate has dropped to 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. NHTSA says the decrease is largely thanks to increased seat belt use and effective campaigns against drunk driving.

Interestingly enough, The Detroit News is also reporting that nationally, the number of motorcycle fatalities decreased by 16 percent compared to 2009. That fall is the first such drop in over ten years, though no one is offering an explanation for those numbers.

Despite the relatively rosy outlook, NHTSA also says that we still have a long way to go. Last year, more than 30,000 people died and over 2.4 million people were injured in traffic collisions. Be careful out there, people.

[Sources: Automotive News, The Detroit News | Image: Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty]

Traffic deaths in U.S. fall to 60-year low originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Sep 2010 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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National Safety Council says 2008 traffic deaths hit record low

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Safety

According to an annual report published by the National Safety Council, there were 39,800 deaths last year related to motor vehicles in 2008. That's an 8% improvement over the previous year, and it's not entirely due to fewer miles driven, as the ratio of deaths per vehicle miles driven has also dropped.

A trifecta of factors have conspired to cut traffic fatalities in 2008 to these record low levels. First, our vehicles themselves are getting safer, as proven each year by the number of new vehicles that ace NHTSA and IIHS crash testing. Other likely contributing factors are public education and the visible enforcement of safety laws.

Fewer deaths also means less money paid for things like lost wages, medical expenses and property damage. Not as important as fatalities to be sure, but good news nonetheless. Click on the jump for the NSC's press release.

[Source: National Safety Council]

Continue reading National Safety Council says 2008 traffic deaths hit record low

National Safety Council says 2008 traffic deaths hit record low originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traffic deaths down, U.S. roads reach record level of safety

Chris Shunk — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Safety

Safer vehicles and increased law enforcement has resulted in the lowest driving fatality rate ever last year. There were 41,059 traffic deaths in 2007, down 1,600 from 2006. Fatalities are now at 1.37 per 100 million miles traveled, which is the lowest number since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration started keeping track. The proliferation of safety technology, like side curtain air bags, stability control, and traction control, are apparently helping to make our roads safer, and good old-fashioned seat belts are being used more than ever. The "Click it or Ticket" campaign isn't the only way law enforcement has helped to lower fatalities either, as increased drunken driving patrols have lead to a 3.7% decline in deaths. Still, 13,000 people died last year as a result of drunken driving, which is 13,000 too many.

News on the safety front isn't as good for motorcycle drivers, though. A record 5,154 bikers lost their lives on U.S. roads in 2007, which is over 200 more than in 2006. Part of the reason for that increase is that there are more motorcycle drivers on the road, with 6 million motorcycles registered last year, up 2.2 million in the past decade.

[Source: Kicking Tires via CNN]

Traffic deaths down, U.S. roads reach record level of safety originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Traffic deaths substantially higher among some ethnic groups, males

Eric Bryant — Thu, 25 May 2006 13:04:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Safety

Hispanics and Native Americans face dramatically higher odds of dying in an automobile accident than do whites, blacks, or Asians, according to a study on the topic recently released by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The trend is said to be caused by an increased rate of intoxicated driving, more drivers without a valid operator's license and decreased seatbelt usage among the higher-risk ethnic groups. A NHTSA spokesman stated that the agency is "not sure there is an answer across the board." Part of the problem is thought to be related to recent immigrants who are not yet familiar with the driving habits and rules of U.S. roads, though presumably this reasoning does not extend to Native Americans.

Taking a look at gender instead of race, men are twice as likely to die as women in auto accidents - a fact that Autoblog attributes to the strong correlation between the Y chromosome and a tendency to perform donuts, engage in stoplight drag racing, and generally act like hooligans whenever presented anything with wheels and an internal combustion engine.

[Source: Detroit News]

Traffic deaths substantially higher among some ethnic groups, males originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 25 May 2006 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vehicles get safer, but crash fatalities climb

Eric Bryant — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Safety

While new vehicles continue to sprout ever-increasing numbers of safety features, traffic fatalities still hit a 15-year high in 2005, notching 43,200 fatalities according to a recent release by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). This represents an increase of 1.2 percent over 2004, while miles traveled only increased by 0.03% to a jaw-dropping 2.964 trillion. The projected death rate is still only 1.46 per 100 million miles traveled, which is only a slight increase from the record low of 1.44 in 2004 (which suggests that most means that motorists should spend less time worrying about automotive safety and put more effort into improving their health).

Deaths in passenger cars fell by approximately 2 percent, while SUVs and light trucks saw a 4 percent increase in body count. The motorcycle death toll jumped by 7.7 percent last year and has now doubled in less than a decade. Tellingly, two-wheelers now account for nearly 10 percent of all traffic deaths.

Seatbelts are now used by over 80 percent of drivers, but fully 55 percent of those who died in a car crash were not using one.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Vehicles get safer, but crash fatalities climb originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 Apr 2006 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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