Research finds drop in US road fatalities
Source: Agencies |
January 6, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AIR bags and recession have contributed to the biggest drop in road deaths in the United States since World War II, according to US researchers.
Changes in driving patterns and safety features contributed to a 22 percent decline in road deaths between 2005 and 2009, Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan said in a report that studied federal data looking for the causes associated with fatal crashes.
"From 2005 to 2009, US road fatalities dropped by 22 percent (from 43,510 to 33,963). A reduction of such magnitude over such a short time has not occurred since road safety statistics were first kept (starting in 1913), except for the reductions during World War II," they said.
Traffic deaths in 2009 were the lowest since 1954, the US Department of Transportation said in March.
"The two factors that we are putting our money on are technological advances, mainly air bags, and the economic downturn," Sivak said.
He and Schoettle analyzed patterns and found a four percent drop in traffic, notably during rush hour, and less traffic on interstate highways.
"This supports the notion that people are cutting down on travel and staying closer to home," Sivak said.
Changes in driving patterns and safety features contributed to a 22 percent decline in road deaths between 2005 and 2009, Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle of the University of Michigan said in a report that studied federal data looking for the causes associated with fatal crashes.
"From 2005 to 2009, US road fatalities dropped by 22 percent (from 43,510 to 33,963). A reduction of such magnitude over such a short time has not occurred since road safety statistics were first kept (starting in 1913), except for the reductions during World War II," they said.
Traffic deaths in 2009 were the lowest since 1954, the US Department of Transportation said in March.
"The two factors that we are putting our money on are technological advances, mainly air bags, and the economic downturn," Sivak said.
He and Schoettle analyzed patterns and found a four percent drop in traffic, notably during rush hour, and less traffic on interstate highways.
"This supports the notion that people are cutting down on travel and staying closer to home," Sivak said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
