Traffic Deaths At Record Lows

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It’s been 55 years since road deaths were as low as they were in 2009. Fatalities in 2009 fell 3,300 from 2008 to 33,693. That’s the least amount of deaths since 1954, and traffic deaths have fallen nearly 10,000 since 2005. Not only did the total number of deaths drop, but the rate of fatalities is at its lowest level ever, at 1.16 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.

Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and others attribute the drop in deaths to the recession and folks driving less. But because the rate is also lower, it’s likely that safety improvements to new cars are another reason. Others have pointed to safety campaigns for wearing seat belts and drunken driving prevention as well.
 
Traffic deaths at lowest level since ’54 (Detroit News)