U.S. Auto Deaths Hit 12-Year High in 2002

Yahoo ^ | Thu Jul 17, 3:08 PM ET | John Crawley

[demlosers]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of people killed in sport utility rollover crashes rose 14 percent last year as total highway deaths hit a 12-year high at nearly 43,000, the U.S. government reported on Thursday.

The Transportation Department's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also reported that car crash injuries fell to an all-time low in 2002.

Child and pedestrian deaths also went down as did fatalities involving large trucks.

But in 2002, SUV rollover fatalities jumped to more than 2,400 victims, an increase of 14 percent over last year, the government said. Sixty-one percent of all SUV fatalities involved rollovers.

Overall fatalities increased to 42,815 in 2002 from 42,196 in 2001. Rollovers involving all types of vehicles accounted for more than 80 percent of the increase.

Government figures show the rate of fatal rollovers for SUVs is almost three times that of cars.

These statistics help underscore the challenge facing regulators, who have redoubled efforts to reduce carnage on the nation's roads. Motorists traveled more than 2.8 trillion miles last year.

This summer, highway safety officials launched media and law enforcement initiatives to improve seat belt use and discourage drunk driving.

Alcohol-related fatalities remained unchanged at 41 percent of the total, or 17,419. And nearly 60 percent of the total number of people killed in auto crashes last year were not wearing seat belts.

"I personally urge states to pass tough laws prohibiting drunk driving and requiring the use of safety belts. Once and for all we must resolve the national epidemic on our highways," Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in a statement.

The nation's top auto safety regulator, Jeffrey Runge, has launched a high-profile campaign to make popular sport utility vehicles safer.

For now, Runge is relying on an industry-government effort to reduce SUV rollover and other risks, but has not ruled out regulations to force changes.

There are 22 million SUVs on U.S. roads, or about 10 percent of the total number of vehicles. This explosion in popularity since the mid 1990s has raised concerns about larger and heavier SUVs sharing the road with passenger cars.

In fatal crashes between passenger cars and the vehicle category that includes SUVs, the occupants of the car were more often the victims.

Joan Claybrook, president of consumer group Public Citizen, said the increase in SUV rollover death figures could put new pressure on the industry to make those vehicles safer. But she doubted voluntary efforts would succeed, saying that regulation would probably be necessary.

"You can design a vehicle to prevent most of the injuries and deaths," said Claybrook, who held Runge's job in the late 1970s.

[demlosers]

43,000 highway deaths / 365 days = 117.80 per day.

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[Steely Glint]

A traffic researcher buddy told me that the deaths per mile are actually DOWN, and the reason that the overall death toll is higher is only because the total miles driven is way up. Can anyone confirm that?

[Madcelt]

they're gonna ban cars/truck/motorcycle next...I'm hiding my in the lake....maybe they won't look there.(/sarcasm off ...I just could help myself except to say that.)

[cavtrooper21]

This VS how many deaths by firearm?
Ban the cars, ban the cars (and SUVs)!!!!!!

[RightWhale]

the reason that the overall death toll is higher is only because the total miles driven is way up.

Sure seems like people are using their cars more. I wonder if people in the SUVs are properly belted in, or if they carry loose cargo that would cause injury in case of roll-over.

[Bonaparte]

Classic liberal reasoning by Claybrook. It was federal fuel economy regs that practically mandated the development of SUVs and minivans in the first place. Now she proposes to compound the "problem" with yet more federal regs.

[eno_]

Bad journalism in any case.

It would read very differently if it said "Miles WAY up, deaths per mile down. Public rejects TSA anal probe at airports in massive numbers."

[frithguild]

"A traffic researcher buddy told me that the deaths per mile are actually DOWN, and the reason that the overall death toll is higher is only because the total miles driven is way up. Can anyone confirm that?"

A very true and not publicized fact. It gores nobody's ox.

Best I can do right now is a NYT piece (VERY sorry about the source):
"The fatality rate on highways measured by deaths per mile driven is consistently decreasing. While roughly 42,000 Americans die in traffic accidents each year, the number of vehicles and miles driven have grown steadily every decade. "
http://www.scienceservingsociety.com/p/mics/BroderErrorFixed.htm

[frithguild]

Rollover accidents are the most damaging to occupants. A three point belt does not prevent flail - whipping side to side as the vehicle rolls. Occupants heads impact the B pillats, windows and each other.

Don't you think there is a reason race cars are equipped with five point systems?

[Atlas Sneezed]

BIG LIE!

Responsible reporting of highway safety has historically been done in terms of fatality RATES. This avoids the distortion caused by increased numbers of drivers and miles driven. (Just because there are more fatalities, doesn't mean that the average driver is at any greater risk for each 10,000 miles driven.

In FACT, this "12-year record high" in total fatalities occurred in the same year where the fatality RATE maintained an ALL TIME record LOW.

The NHTSA release (which emphasizes the irrelevant total fatality number) is noted below, and it states:

"Though overall fatalities increased to 42,815 in 2002 from 42,196 in 2001, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) remained at 1.51, a historic low. According to Federal Highway Administration estimates, VMT increased in 2002 to 2.83 trillion, up from 2.78 trillion in 2001."

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/nhtsa/announce/press/pressdisplay.cfm?year=2003&filename=pr32-03.html

(Note that the fatality rate in the mid 70s, AFTER the limit was dropped to 55, was about 4 times current fatality rates.)

[Maria S]

Not sure if this should be factored in, but weren't there a lot more of us driving after 9/11/01? My husband and I weren't about to fly anywhere until just recently.

[RightWhale]

Car occupants could wear helmets. That ought to reduce serious injuries considerably. Full harnesses would help, but that would be a hard sell among some. I wouldn't mind, but the gf is NOT going to be interested.

[xm177e2]

43,000 highway deaths / 365 days = 117.80 per day.

43,000 highway deaths / 365 days = 117.80 per day = QUAGMIRE!!!

[snopercod]

Public rejects TSA anal probe at airports in massive numbers...

You 'da MAN for pointing out why people are driving more. I love FR!

[demlosers]

43,000 highway deaths / 365 days = 117.80 per day = QUAGMIRE!!!

We're in Iraq!! ;)

[decimon]

Sure seems like people are using their cars more. I wonder if people in the SUVs are properly belted in, or if they carry loose cargo that would cause injury in case of roll-over.

Try mentioning the higher center of gravity of SUVs to your SUV owning acquaintances and see what reaction you get.

[mewzilla]

Even belted in you're at a higher risk in an SUV, especially from your roof crumpling in on you. I believe some of the newer models are being reinforced, but you have to ask. Also, remember that side windows aren't glazed, and if your head hits that glass you're in trouble then, too.

[Bluewave]

It is true that deaths per million miles driven are down somewhat dramatically since the early 70's. If we had the same death rate per million miles, we would be killing about 150,000 people per year instead of only 43,000.

However, 43,000 deaths per year is an extraordinary number of deaths. Much more should be done to decrease the slaughter.

I believe that so many of us are touched by the tragic deaths of loved ones, friends, and acquaintances, that we would support a major highway traffic safety program. I good politician could find a ticket to the White House on public traffic safety.

I believe the starting place would be to eliminate high speed opposing lane roads. It could be done in a few years for a few cents per gallon in taxes.