Motor vehicle accident fatalities in 2010 dropped to their lowest level since 1949, according to a recent U.S. government report. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently said that 32,885 persons died in motor vehicle-related crashes on U.S. roadways last year – an average of about 90 persons each day.
What really was an attention-getter in that same report was the term “distraction-affected” to describe the type of accidents which claimed the lives of 3,092 people (1 of every 11) on the nation’s roadways in 2010. The term was applied to those fatal accidents that involved in-vehicle distractions such as use of a mobile communications device while driving --- i.e. texting, making a call or taking a call. These types of distractions also involved use of hands-free mobile communications devices.
Unfortunately, omitted from “distraction-oriented” fatal crashes are other significant causative factors such as when motor vehicle operators are applying makeup, eating, have a pet in their lap, changing a radio/CD tuner, reading, smoking and a host of other “activities” while driving. The report also counted 10,228 roadway fatalities in 2010 that were due to driving while intoxicated.
The subject matter of including “distraction-affected” causes as a specific measurement in the reporting and analysis of fatal motor vehicle crashes also is capturing the attention of others across the transportation industry, such as those officials who are connected to the recreational boating industry. Look for the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and state watercraft agencies in 2012 and beyond to increase their focus on measuring and assessing what role “distraction-affected” causes may play in critical injury boating accidents.
No comments:
Post a Comment