Skip to main content

US traffic deaths up 7.7 per cent in 2015

Preliminary data released by the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show a 7.7 per cent increase in motor vehicle traffic deaths in 2015. An estimated 35,200 people died in 2015, up from the 32,675 reported fatalities in 2014. Although the data are preliminary and requires additional analysis, the early NHTSA estimate shows 9 out of 10 regions within the United States had increased traffic deaths in 2015. The most significant increases came for pedest
July 8, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
Preliminary data released by the 324 US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show a 7.7 per cent increase in motor vehicle traffic deaths in 2015. An estimated 35,200 people died in 2015, up from the 32,675 reported fatalities in 2014.

Although the data are preliminary and requires additional analysis, the early NHTSA estimate shows 9 out of 10 regions within the United States had increased traffic deaths in 2015. The most significant increases came for pedestrians and bicyclists.

If these projec¬tions are realised, fatalities will be at the highest level since 2008, when 37,423 fatalities were reported. Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that vehicle miles travelled in 2015 increased by about 107.2 billion miles, or about a 3.5-per cent increase.

According to NHTSA administrator Dr Mark Rosekind, an improved economy and lower fuel prices has led to Americans driving more, but only explains part of the increase in fatalities. He says 94 per cent of crashes can be tied back to a human choice or error, so more focus is needed on improving human behaviour while promoting vehicle technology that not only protects people in crashes, but helps prevent crashes in the first place.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Good news for the ITS industry from new $105 billion US transportation reauthorisation bill
    July 11, 2012
    ITS America has applauded approval by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate of the conference report to HR 4348, (here’s the link Joseph: http://www.rules.house.gov/Media/file/PDF_112_2/LegislativeText/CRPT-112hrpt-HR4348ih.pdf ) a legislative package which includes the surface transportation reauthoriSation bill. The bill passed the House by a wide margin of 373 – 52, was subsequently approved by the Senate by a 74-19 vote, and the legislation has been signed by the President. The legislation w
  • Mexico City seeks solutions to improve air quality
    December 6, 2017
    David Crawford ponders prospects for one of the world’s most congested and polluted cities. In 1992, the United Nations named Mexico City as the world’s most polluted urban centre. In the first half of 2016, following the updating of pollution alert limits to meet international standards, Mexico recorded 115 days where ozone concentrations exceeded the acute exposure health limit.
  • Include ITS in policy decisions from the start, not as an afterthought
    February 1, 2012
    DG TREN's Fotis Karamitsos, on why the European Commission's new ITS Action Plan is looking to the past for future direction. The European Commission's (EC's) new Action Plan for the Deployment of Intelligent Transport Systems in Europe, which was announced as 2008 drew to a close, intends that transport and travel become 'cleaner; more efficient, including energy efficient; and safer and more secure'. At first sight, that wording might be interpreted as marking a significant policy shift within Europe, wit
  • New South Wales removes speed cameras
    October 3, 2014
    New South Wales Minister for Roads and Freight, Duncan Gay, has announced that speed cameras in ten locations across NSW are to be removed as soon as any safety works such as additional signage, barriers and markings and that work has been finished. Gay said in a statement that the government is keeping to a statement that it made while in opposition, and removing any speed cameras that did not add a proven safety benefit. The 2014 Speed Camera Review of the state’s cameras indicates that early result