Safer cars doesn’t mean safer roads
These days, it’s pretty standard for cars to include top-of-the-line safety features. These range from rear view cameras, lane departure warnings, traction control, and even blind spot detection.
Driving a safe vehicle can also mean more money in your pocket, as drivers can save on the cost of car insurance. A car insurance company can generally provide more affordable car insurance if your vehicle has safety features. However, safer cars do not necessarily mean safer roads across the country.
From January to June, approximately 18,720 people have died on American highways. As a result of a growing economy, people are driving more miles compared to the recession level data. Less unemployment means that there are more cars on the roads taking people to and from work and more money for leisure activities. In 2017, Americans traveled 3.22 trillion miles according to the Federal Highway Administration.
When you factor in more miles driven along with speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and distracted driving, the death rate is at a record high.
South Carolina leads the nation in traffic accident rates per miles traveled. In 2017, the state had 1.88 deaths for every 100 million miles traveled, which is nearly twice the national average. Illinois reported 1,090 deaths from traffic accidents.
This trend led Governor Rauner to declare August 17th Traffic Death Awareness Day at the Illinois State Fair through a partnership with the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, the Department of Health. of Illinois, the Illinois Secretary of State and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
States across the country have launched similar awareness efforts like Vision Zero. Vision Zero’s goal is to strategically eliminate road traffic fatalities and injuries while increasing safe, healthy and equitable mobility for all.
Slowing down is perhaps the most effective way to reduce fatalities. Speed increases the distance a car takes to come to a complete stop. The speed of impact is also directly related to the risk of death. The higher the speed of impact, the greater the probability that a passenger will die.
Even at lower speeds, it is difficult for police officers to enforce these lower limits. Automated cameras are already unpopular and adding more would also be expensive.
Every year, an estimated 40,000 Americans die on the road. With effective legislation and commitment, we can all work together to lower that statistic.
According to research from the Overseas Development Institute and the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, one way forward is to treat traffic fatalities and road safety as a public health problem. The public needs to stop blaming drivers for crashes and look to legislators for ways to help prevent them.