U.S. Traffic Fatalities Continued to Surge in First Half of 2016

The Wall Street Journal ^ | August 23, 2016 | Beckie Strum

[KeyLargo]

U.S. Traffic Fatalities Continued to Surge in First Half of 2016

Deaths rose 9%, extending a trend that began two years ago as the economy improved and travel increased Traffic fatalities were up 9% in the first six months of this year compared with the same period last year.

By Beckie Strum

Traffic fatalities rose 9% in the first six months of 2016, compared with a year earlier, as a stronger economy and falling gas prices encouraged Americans to spend more time behind the wheel, the National Safety Council said on Tuesday.

Traffic fatalities have been trending upward since 2014, when the price of gasoline plummeted and a strengthening economy spurred more travel. The average price at the pump has dropped more than a $1.30 per gallon, or 35%, since this time two years ago, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

States including Vermont, Oregon and New Hampshire have been particularly deadly since the upward trend started in 2014, according to preliminary estimates compiled by the NSC, an Illinois-based nonprofit that collects data from state authorities.

Deaths on the road nearly doubled in tiny Vermont, population 620,000. The state recorded an 82% increase this year compared with the first six months of 2014.

Vermont is so small that even one bad crash can send its year-over-year change skyrocketing, said Scott Davidson, chief of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. It had 57 fatal accidents in 2015, he said. “If I have a bus crash, my numbers go through the roof,” said Mr. Davidson.

In most states, Vermont included, people are simply driving more, leading to more crashes, Mr. Davidson said. “Nationally, there’s just more miles being traveled,” he said.

[DannyTN]

Automate driving.

They are making great progress. But we need more, sooner than later. Take humans out of the equation and free them to text and play pokemon.

[ilovesarah2012]

Cell phones.

[Alberta's Child]

It can't just be the result of more auto travel. I'm sure Vermont hasn't seen an 82% increase in traffic over the last few years.

Interestingly, some places saw higher fatality rates with LESS traffic a few years ago. Traffic fatality rates in New York City, for example, are generally very low because the city is so congested and it's almost impossible to lose your life in a crash during most of the day even if you're trying to kill yourself. NYC saw a spike in fatality rates a few years ago when traffic volumes declined.

[Alberta's Child]

I predict that it will be at least 50 years before cars are fully automated — if we ever even get to that point.

[Moonman62]

It can’t just be the result of more auto travel. I’m sure Vermont hasn’t seen an 82% increase in traffic over the last few years.

...

The article offers a plausible explanation for Vermont, too.

[Alberta's Child]

What’s the explanation they gave? I don’t have a WSJ subscription to read the full article.

[T-Bone Texan]

Something I noticed in my diverse area is that black people and other minorities are under no obligation to drive safely, signal, or use any type of courtesy or responsibility while driving.

Rules no longer apply to them, and they know it.

Freeways: It’s a black world now.

[KeyLargo]

video:

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/shocking-videos-show-teen-drivers-moments-crash-29917238

[DannyTN]

If it happens before 50 years you owe me a coke, and 50 or later I owe you one.

[Moonman62]

It’s in the excerpt.

[Mr. Jeeves]

You laugh, but if cars were a new invention the general public would never be allowed to touch a steering wheel. :)

[Alberta's Child]

You're on. LOL.

I'll be thankful just to live long enough to collect on that bet!

[Alberta's Child]

Oh, OK. That seems more like speculation than an actual explanation.

[Signalman]

Legalizing marijuana. More potheads on the road.

[SamAdams76]

Self driving cars can't come soon enough. I know that technology will never be perfect but think it will be much safer than what we are seeing now.

I don't think we are going to put this text & driving thing back in the bottle. They will soon have tiny monitors built into sunglasses and keyboard strips attached to steering wheels. Think I'm kidding? It's coming.

It will be almost impossible to determine that a driver is distracted by texting, reading emails, streaming a sporting event live, watching a Netflix video, etc.

[DoughtyOne]

Bush's fault.

Global warming.

Trump's candidacy.

White men.

Straight individuals.

Christians...


Ramirez's latest political cartoon LARGE VERSION 08/21/2016: LINK  LINK to regular sized version of Ramirez's latest, and an archive of his political cartoons.
In this political cartoon, Ramirez presents, "Obama's Disaster"


If you're not on the automated monthly donation program, please consider joining the One One Done project.  LINK

FReepers, 60.13% of the Third Quarter FReep-a-thon goal has been met.  Please click above and pencil in your donation now.  Please folks, lets end this FReepathon.  Thank you!
...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Redwood71]

I find it interesting, along with funny, to see the Wall Street Journal base it’s information to lead their readers to interpret a state of 620K people to answer for the same topic all over the country. That amount of people could easily fit in any of the major city suburbs in the US. They need to broaden their spectrum or just shut up trying to mislead the public with “guesses.” This is why the major news suppliers like the NY Times, all the way to the San Jose Mercury News, are in trouble with circulation. They can’t be trusted. And only too slowly, the public is catching on.

red

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Too many illegals on the road. They don’t know how to drive.

[mad_as_he$$]

Especially those black ones with full auto assault tranny’s.

[mad_as_he$$]

Winner!