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U.S. Highway Fatality Rate Drops to 62-Year Low
Last year's highway fatality rate in America dropped 1.7% to 32,300 people the lowest number since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began tracking the data in 1949, according to the agency's preliminary assessment.
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Last year's highway fatality rate in America dropped 1.7% to 32,300 people the lowest number since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began tracking the data in 1949, according to the agency's preliminary assessment.
The decline came as motorists drove 36 billion miles, 1.2% fewer than the year before. NHTSA expects last year's fatality rate will be 1.09 fatalities per 100 million miles traveled, down from 1.11 in 2010 and 7.13 in 1949.
The rate has plunged 26% since 2005. Safety experts attribute the improvement to greater use of seatbelts, safety technology, improved emergency medical response and campaigns to reduce drunk driving.