Motor Vehicle Fatalities Up 9 Percent; No Sign of a Decrease in 2016, says National Safety Council

If trend continues, U.S. may see its deadliest driving year since 2007 and deadliest Labor Day since 2008

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Aug 23, 2016, 07:00 ET

ITASCA, Ill., Aug. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council indicate motor vehicle deaths were 9 percent higher through the first six months of 2016 than in 2015, and 18 percent higher than two years ago at the six month mark. An estimated 19,100 people have been killed on U.S. roads since January – enough to fill 382 school busesⁱ – and 2.2 million were seriously injuredⁱⁱ. The total estimated cost of these deaths and injuries is $205 billion.

The mission of the National Safety Council 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 upward trend began in late 2014 and shows no signs of decreasing. Last winter, the National Safety Council issued its largest year-over-year percentage increase in 50 years, when it estimated fatalities had jumped 8 percent in 2015 compared to 2014. The continued rise in fatalities is prompting the Council to predict the deadliest Labor Day holiday period since 2008. NSC estimates 438 people will be killed during the three-day holiday weekend.ⁱⁱⁱ

States that have been particularly hard hit since 2014, the start of the upward trend, are Florida (43 percent), Georgia (34 percent), Indiana (33 percent), California (31 percent increase), North Carolina (26 percent), Illinois (24 percent) and Kentucky (24 percent).

"Our complacency is killing us," said Deborah A.P. Hersman, president and CEO of the National Safety Council. "One hundred deaths every day should outrage us. Americans should demand change to prioritize safety actions and protect ourselves from one of the leading causes of preventable death."

While many factors likely contributed to the fatality increase, a stronger economy and lower unemployment rates are at the core of the trend. Average gas prices for the first six months of this year were 16 percent lower than 2015 levels^iv, helping to fuel a 3.3 percent increase in the number of miles driven.

To help ensure safety, the National Safety Council 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, as 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 features such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning systems and backup cameras.

Motor vehicle fatality estimates are subject to slight increases or decreases as data mature. NSC has issued traffic fatality estimates since 1921. Supplemental estimate information can be found here.

About the National Safety Council
Founded in 1913 and chartered by Congress, the National Safety Council, nsc.org, is 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. NSC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, government agencies, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact – distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, prescription drug overdoses and Safe Communities.

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ⁱ Estimate based on the average capacity (50 people) of an average sized school bus (45 feet)
ⁱⁱ The National Safety Council defines "serious injuries" as those requiring medical attention
ⁱⁱⁱ The Labor Day holiday weekend begins at 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5.
^iv According to U.S. Energy Information Administration

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SOURCE National Safety Council