Posted on April 23, 2010 by Scott Grossman

New Jersey Motorcycle Accident Fatality Rates Drop in 2009

After 11 years of rising motorcycle accident fatality rates in New Jersey, there is some good news from the Governors’ Highway Safety Association. There is expected to be a substantial drop in motorcycle crash fatality rates for 2009 in New Jersey and nationwide.

The data only includes figures for the first nine months of 2009, but the agency says that the rates are low enough to expect that when final totals are tabulated, the overall motorcycle crash fatality rate for 2009 will be more than 10% lower. 2009, therefore, marks the first year in more than 11 that these rates have actually dropped.New Jersey has been very successful in controlling its motorcycle accident fatality rates. In 2009, there were 59 fatalities, compared to 72 in 2008. That was a drop of 13 fatalities since the previous year. 

The GHSA is putting out a number of theories for this decline. Unfortunately, it seems like the financial recession which has also impacted auto accident fatalities, has contributed to a drop in motorcycle fatality rates too. Fewer motorcycles were sold in 2009, and fewer people were inclined towards recreational riding. Besides, there were also fewer numbers of middle-aged motorcyclists in 2009, and this group is at a high risk for accidents and fatalities.

Besides, several states have responded positively to the increasing rate of motorcycle crash fatalities over the past few years. Many states have required mandatory motorcycle safety training programs before a person begins riding a motorcycle, and helmet laws have been strengthened. States have invested in enhanced safety programs which include raising awareness among motorists about motorcyclist safety. This has led to fewer collisions, and hence, fewer fatalities.

As a New Jersey motorcycle accident lawyer, I will be interested in seeing if these declining rates stay low, even after the recession ends

 

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Posted on February 7, 2009 by Scott Grossman

Automobile Accident Rates Hit New Lows in 2008

Automobile accident fatalities around the country, including in New Jersey are on their way to "significant" lows, a survey shows. In at least 40 states out of the 44 surveyed, the decline in the numbers of  accident related deaths  is up to 10.7 percent on an average.

According to the Governor's Highway Safety Association, the declines can be traced to a widespread use of seatbelts. The practice of buckling up in 2008 stood at close to 83 per cent of the driving population, and this has contributed to large number of lives being saved in automobile crashes. There has also been an increase in efforts made towards traffic safety enforcement. The state with the largest reduction in fatalities was Massachusetts with a 29 percent drop , followed by Wisconsin, Alaska, Hawaii, Virginia and the District of Columbia  where these rates dropped by 20 percent. New Jersey fared well on the list too, with an 18 percent drop in accident fatalities in 2008. Georgia was the other state that saw a double digit drop in accident fatalities with a 12 per cent decline.

Other interesting factors have been cited by the GHSA as contributing to this welcome drop in fatalities. Drivers it appears, are driving slower in an attempt to save on fuel. This means that major-impact crashes that occur at high speeds and very often result in fatalities, have been markedly reduced. Expect safety enforcement programs across various states to use this "fuel efficiency" carrot to encourage drivers to slow down.

The results of the GHSA survey seem to mirror findings from other agencies that have pointed to a drop in fatalities. The Department of Transportation has estimated that the accident death rate for 2008 has dropped substantially. . Of course, these lowered accident rates seem to be coinciding with a slow economy, as well as the gas price crisis last summer, which may explain the drop to large extent. With a meltdown in full swing,, people are less inclined to drive unless absolutely necessary, which has meant fewer people on the roads. We'll have to wait a couple of years to see if these statistics change dramatically once the economy gets back to normal, and people begin their usual driving habits again.

Bergen County Car Accident Lawyers

At the Law Offices of Scott Grossman, our Bergen county car accident lawyers constantly represent victims of automobile accidents. If you have suffered an injury in an accident, contact a Bergen County car accident lawyer at the firm to discuss your options for compensation.

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