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.
