Traffic Accident Facts

Traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of death in the United States.

Approximately 6.8 million traffic accidents occur each year in the United States as of 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traffic accident and motor vehicle related accidents are the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 and 34. More than 5 million people suffer traffic accident-related injuries every year--the impact of which costs the government and taxpayers billions of dollars.

Causes and Vehicles Involved

Traffic accidents are caused by or involve a number of vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, school buses, light trucks, and even bicycles. According to the NHTSA, an overwhelming majority of traffic accidents involves passenger cars (40.4 percent), light trucks (37.8 percent), motorcycles (10.7 percent) and large trucks (8.1 percent).

Distracted Driving

According to the NHTSA, distracted driving was responsible for the deaths of nearly 6,000 people in 2008 and more than half a million injuries. Distracted driving is a life-threatening practice that involves anything that distracts a driver visually, manually or cognitively. Distracting activities include eating, grooming, watching a video, using a cell phone, talking to other passengers and changing a radio station.

Impaired Driving or Driving Under Influence

Impaired driving, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is a criminal offense that is punishable by a jail term and/or the revocation of a driver's license. According to the traffic safety facts for 2008 published by the NHTSA, 11,773 people lost their lives in alcohol-impaired traffic accidents in 2008, and more than 1.4 million drivers were arrested for driving under the influence of narcotics or alcohol. Cocaine, marijuana and other drugs contributed to approximately 18 percent of all traffic accident deaths the same year.

Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving, or driving in a way that endangers property, persons or the driver, is a leading cause of traffic accidents. It includes improper passing, distracting drivers, weaving, tailgating, improper lane changing and speeding. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's report titled "Aggressive Driving Research Update 2009," as many as 56 percent of all deadly traffic accidents involve one or more risky behaviors linked with aggressive driving.

Seat Belts and Safety

According to the NHTSA, seat belts save more than 13,000 lives annually. They are the primary and best form of defense against distracted, aggressive and impaired drivers. Wearing a seat belt is mandatory for all vehicle occupants---including children, toddlers, pregnant mothers and the elderly.

References

• Department of Transportation: Distracted Driving
• AAA Foundation-Aggressive Driving: Research Update (PDF)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Vehicles
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Alcohol-Impaired Driving

Resources

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Aggressive Driving
• Missouri Department of Transportation: Traffic Statistics