Traffic Fatalities See Small Rise
by NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press (via ClariNet)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of people killed in traffic
accidents increased slightly last year, partly due to yet another
jump in fatal motorcycle accidents.
Federal estimates released Thursday show that after many years
of decline, motorcycle deaths steadily increased from 1997 to 2000,
growing 27 percent in the three-year period.
Last year there were 2,680 motorcycle deaths, according to
estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
That's 208 more than in 1999, enough to offset the 188 additional
traffic deaths last year.
The rate of death per miles traveled on the nation's highways
increased slightly last year for the first time since 1977. There
were 41,800 fatalities, or 1.6 deaths per million miles traveled,
compared with 1.5 in 1999 and 3.3 in 1977.
Besides motorcycle fatalities, there were increases in deaths of
teen drivers. Alcohol-related fatalities rose from 15,786 to
16,068, but remained at 38 percent of total traffic deaths -- an
all-time low.
There were drops in the deaths of children under five,
pedestrians, people involved in crashes with large trucks and
occupants of vehicles that roll over. However, for occupants of
less-stable sport utility vehicles, rollover deaths increased 2.8
percent.
NHTSA uses the statistics to plan public awareness campaigns,
set funding priorities and focus its energies on at-risk
populations.
``These statistics underscore the challenges facing this country
in highway safety,'' Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said in
a statement. ``Safety is an individual as well as government
responsibility, and we must work together to improve it.''
The figures are based on data collected by police at accident
scenes nationwide. The preliminary numbers use statistics from the
first nine months and then estimate a total for the year. An exact
tally will not be ready until July.
NHTSA spokesman Rae Tyson said agency officials were waiting for
final statistics before drawing too many conclusions, but they were
particularly concerned about the motorcycle deaths.
He said there has been a steady rise in the age of riders
getting killed and the size of the bikes involved in fatal
accidents.
``It may be lack of experience, it may be lack of training, it
could be a lot of things,'' he said. ``In some cases, it could be
drinking and riding, which is never a good combination. If there is
any situation where you need all your faculties, it's riding a
motorcycle.''
Steffanie Gunn, a spokeswoman for the Motorcycle Safety
Foundation that trains riders around the country, said there has
been a trend of baby boomers and other adults taking up riding
after several years off a bike.
``We are trying to get the word out to the them to get some
retraining,'' she said. ``It's not like riding a bicycle.''
Motorcycle deaths reached a low point in 1997 with 2,116, or 21
deaths for every million miles they were driven in America. That
was less than a third of the rate from 20 years earlier.
Since 1997, at least four states -- Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky
and
Louisiana -- have repealed their mandatory helmet laws for adult
drivers, according to Allan Williams, chief scientist for the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
A Transportation Department study published last summer shows
that after the change in Texas and Arkansas, helmet use dropped and
injuries and fatalities increased.
``Obviously, it makes a big difference wearing a helmet or not
as to whether you are going to survive a crash,'' Williams said.
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On the Net:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov
Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
http://www.msf-usa.org