Surprisingly, Driving kills as many Americans each year as guns do.
New vehicles in the United States today are the safest and most advanced ever made, yet roadway fatalities in 2021 reached their highest level in 16 years. More people are dying on American roads, even as cars get safer. Even the safest and most defensive drivers can find themselves in a car crash when a reckless or negligent driver is on the road.
The problem is complex: It’s a combination of distracted or reckless Driving, largely due to cell phone usage and increased sales of trucks and SUVs, among other factors.
More people are dying on U.S. roads, even as cars get safer. It’s becoming an increasingly tough problem to solve.
Car accidents worldwide vs. car accidents in the USA
An estimated 1.35 million people die in road crashes yearly; on average, 3,700 people lose their lives daily on the roads. That’s quite a big number.
In the United States, According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, ‘An estimated 42,915 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021, a 10.5% increase from the 38,824 fatalities in 2020 and the highest rate since 2005.’ In the state of Illinois only, For the first nine months of the year, 993 people died on roads, compared to 839 deaths in 2020. This increase is higher than the national average of 12 percent. Considering the high numbers of accidents, you should contact a lawyer immediately if you are injured in a car wreck.
What do the numbers say?
Cars kill approximately 1.3 million people worldwide every year, more than murders and suicides combined. Most victims are bikers, pedestrians, and motorcyclists — not car passengers, who tend to be wealthier. In 1913, there were about 1.3 million vehicles and 2 million drivers, and the number of miles driven was not yet estimated. The latest 2020 data report 275.9 million vehicles, 228 million licensed drivers, and 2,904 billion miles driven annually. That’s a milestone jump.
According to preliminary data from the National Safety Council (NSC), Cars killed 42,060 people in 2020, up from 39,107 in 2019. That increase occurred even as the number of miles traveled by car decreased by 13 percent from 2019. Estimates put the fatality rate for 2021 at 1.33 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, compared with 1.33 fatalities the previous year. It was the biggest single-year spike in the USA car fatality rate in nearly a century, and 2022 is going to be even worse.
Between January and June of 2021, NSC reports that car fatalities rose by 16 percent from the same period last year, with areas as diverse as New York City and Texas reporting sharp increases. If the trend continues for the rest of the year, the nationwide deaths are estimated to reach the highest level since 2006.
Car Crash costs and Statistics
The highest price for car crashes is the loss of human lives. However, society also bears the brunt of the many costs associated with car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. motor vehicle crashes in 2010 cost almost $1 trillion in loss of life and productivity. The study was released in May 2014. Pedestrians are our most vulnerable road users. They walk in the same environments that are dangerous for drivers.
Who Pays?
Private insurers pay approximately 50% of all motor vehicle crash costs. Separate crash victims pay about 26%, while third parties such as uninvolved motorists delayed in traffic, health care providers, and charities pay about 14%. Federal revenues account for 6%, while state and local municipalities pick up about 3%.
The per-capita costs for each state vary from an estimated $600-$1,200 compared to the nationwide average of $897. Smaller, less populated states may have lower overall costs, but they also have fewer resources to draw on. In addition, the total payment is also influenced by physical and mental distress compensation.
How can we reduce car crashes? A shared Responsibility
Reducing road risks requires commitment and informed decision-making by the government, non-governmental organizations, industry, and international agencies. It also requires the participation of people from many different disciplines, including motor vehicle designers, road engineers, law enforcement officers, the media, health professionals, educators, community groups, and individual road users. Strong public awareness campaigns are required to raise understanding of the issue and motivate individuals and governments to take action, comply with existing laws, and amend ineffective laws.
