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Distracted driving may be an increasing danger on our roads, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, preliminary figures indicate that traffic fatalities are heading down in 2013. The numbers fell quite a bit during the first three months of this year, leading the agency to predict around a 4.4% decrease compared to 2012’s numbers.
The report shows that a statistical projection of 2013’s fatality total based on the first three month’s figures puts it at an estimated 7,200 motor vehicle traffic deaths, down from 2012’s 7,530 fatalities. Although fatalities went up in 2012, they declined by about 26% from 2005 to 2011, NHTSA reports.
Are motorists being safer drivers? Not exactly. The data also shows that the number of miles American drivers drove went down as well. A study from the Federal Highway Administration shows that vehicle miles traveled in the first three months of 2013 decreased by about 0.8%, or 5.6 billion miles.
News Editor Jennifer Geiger joined the automotive industry in 2003, much to the delight of her Corvette-obsessed dad. Jennifer is an expert reviewer, certified car-seat technician and mom of three. She wears a lot of hats — many of them while driving a minivan.