Car Crashes in in U.S. Cost $871 Billion

The combined economic and societal cost of motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2010 was $871 billion, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx declares that the analysis, NHTSA's first since 2000, shows that investments in safety are "worth every penny."

The total costs for 2010 consisted of $592 billion in lost quality of life and $279 billion in economic losses. NHTSA says each traffic fatality costs society $9.1 million.

Some of the largest factors contributing to overall crash costs for the year were alcohol ($243 billion), driving too fast for conditions ($210 billion) and distracted driving ($130 billion). Alcohol, speeding and distracted driving accounted for 21% ($59 billion), 18% ($49 billion) and 17% ($46 billion) of economic costs, respectively.

NHTSA calculates that using seatbelts in 2010 saved $69 billion in injury-related costs by avoiding 12,500 fatalities and 308,000 serious injuries. The agency notes that nearly 3,400 people died and 54,300 were seriously injured unnecessarily that year because they failed to use seatbelts. The analysis did not estimate the value of airbags.

There were 33,000 traffic fatalities, 3.9 million non-fatal injuries and 24 million damaged vehicles in 2010, according to the agency.