According to the National Safety Council (NSC) — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to save lives by preventing injuries and deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy — the U.S. is on pace for its deadliest driving year since 2007. NSC estimates traffic deaths are 14-percent higher through the first six months of 2015 than they were during the same period in 2014, and serious injuries are 30-percent higher. According to NSC estimates, serious injuries are classified as those requiring medical consultation.
NSC’s Injury Facts 2015, the NSC’s annual report on unintentional injuries, the three biggest causes of fatalities on the road include: 1. Alcohol (30.8 percent), 2. Speeding (30 percent), 3. Distracted driving (26 percent).
From January to June, nearly 19,000 people died in traffic crashes across the U.S., and more than 2.2 million were seriously injured, putting the country on pace for its deadliest driving year since 2007.
Costs are also up. The six-month estimated bill for traffic deaths, injuries and property damage is $152 billion — 24-per-cent higher than 2014.
While the high death and injury toll could be due to many factors, an improving economy with lower gas prices and unemployment rates herald increases in vehicle miles traveled. Average gas prices are 30-percent lower than they were in 2014 and are projected to remain relatively stable heading into 2016. This generally means an increase in traffic; more people can afford to drive, and many travel longer distances and take vacations.
“Follow the numbers. The trend we are seeing on our roadways is like a flashing red light; danger lies ahead,” said Deborah A.P. Hersman, NSC’s president and CEO. “Be a defensive driver, and make safe decisions behind the wheel. Your life really depends on it.”
Driving safety tips for employers
To prevent motor vehicle crashes involving employees, NSC recommends employers should:
- Apply principles of the “Journey to Safety Excellence.”
- Engage employees to understand the risks they face while driving, take action to address the risks and implement measures to track progress.
- Offer defensive driving courses and other training specific to the risks faced.
- Offer programs for employees with alcohol or prescription or illegal drug problems.
- Enact a corporate cell phone policy to prevent all cell phone use behind the wheel. • Enact a policy that requires employees to wear seat belts.
- Ask NSC experts to assess your organization’s road safety systems, and help design and execute a program.
Driving safety tips off the job
To help ensure safety off the job, NSC recommends drivers:
- Make sure every passenger buckles up on every trip.
- Designate an alcohol- and drug-free driver, or arrange alternate transportation.
- Get plenty of sleep, and take regular breaks to avoid fatigue.
- Never use a cell phone behind the wheel, even hands-free.
- Stay engaged in teens’ driving habits. Teens are three times as likely to crash as more experienced drivers.
- Learn about your vehicle’s safety systems and how to use them. “My Car Does What” can help drivers understand the ins and outs of features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems and backup cameras.
For more information, visit nsc.org or call (800) 621-7615.
