Traffic Fatalities Drop to Lowest Level in Recorded History

The number and rate of traffic fatalities in 2010 fell to the lowest levels since 1949, despite a significant increase in the number of miles Americans drove during the year, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) early projections indicate the number of traffic fatalities fell 3% between 2009 and 2010, from 33,808 to 32,788. Since 2005, fatalities have dropped 25%. The same estimates also project the fatality rate will be the lowest recorded since 1949. The decrease in fatalities for 2010 occurred despite an estimated increase of nearly 21 billion miles in national vehicle miles traveled.

A regional breakdown showed the greatest drop in fatalities occurred in the Pacific Northwest states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska, where they dropped by 12%. Arizona, California and Hawaii had the next steepest decline, nearly 11%.

Source: United States Department of Transportation