U.S., Data Reveals
Despite advancements in vehicle safety technology, the rate of fatal auto accidents in the U.S. has increased over the past year, according to federal data. In fact, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed, data for the first nine months of 2015 indicate a nearly 10 percent increase in traffic-related fatalities in the U.S.
“For decades, U.S. DOT has been driving safety improvements on our roads, and those efforts have resulted in a steady decline in highway deaths. But the apparent increase [in highway deaths] in 2015 is a signal that we need to do more,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
And, tragically, this trend is not limited to the aggregate, national level – it is also reflected in various states, including in Missouri and Illinois, data reveals.
Current Fatality Data for Illinois and Missouri
Here are the most current fatality figures for 2016 for Missouri and Illinois, respectively:
| State Roadway Fatalities | |
| Missouri State Highway Fatalities (2/4/2016)* | 72 |
| Illinois Roadway Fatalities (2/9/2016)* | 87 |
*Fatalities figures taken from data published by the Missouri and Illinois Departments of Transportation
Rates of Fatal Car Accidents in Missouri and Illinois Over Recent Years
In 2014, Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that a total of 766 fatal car crashes occurred, which was up slightly over 2013, when 757 traffic-related deaths reportedly occurred.
In Illinois, in 2015 according to the Department of Transportation, a total of 999 people were killed in traffic accidents (with the specific breakdown of the fatalities by party affected included 664 drivers, 172 passengers, 153 pedestrians, 27 pedalcyclists, and 3 others).
Factors Affecting Fatality Rates
Obviously, a state’s driving population is among the factors that impacts the number of motor vehicle deaths that occur each year in that state. Additional factors that affect traffic-related fatality rates include (but are by no means limited to):
- Driver behaviors and sobriety
- Vehicle condition
- Weather conditions
- Road conditions.
Preventing Fatal Car Accidents to Save Lives: NHTSA Holds Safety Summits Nationwide
In an attempt to start preventing fatal car accidents and saving more lives, NHTSA officials are hosting a series of safety summits, the first of which will be in Sacramento. These summits will bring together civic groups, insurance companies, law enforcement officials and others to discuss possible ways to reduce traffic-related deaths.
NHTSA administrators say different approaches to human behaviors will help save lives. Some of the topics that the NHTSA plans to discuss and gather ideas on include impaired driving (drunk or drugged), aggressive driving/speeding, failure to use infant car seats and seat belts, and distracted driving (texting, inattentiveness, rubbernecking, etc.), just to name a few.
Contact a St Louis Car Accident Lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law
If you have been hurt in a car accident – or if you have lost a loved one in a fatal car accident, contact a St Louis car accident lawyer at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law for effective help pursuing recovery and justice.
At Brown & Brown, we know that no amount of money can make up for catastrophic injuries and losses, including the loss of a loved one. We also know that following through with an accident case can be pivotal to securing essential financial support to:
- Cover outstanding medical bills
- Pay for any future treatment needs, including therapy for profound losses
- Put a loved one to rest
- Properly deal with grief without also having to deal with extreme financial stress.
To learn more about how we can help you, attend a free, no obligations initial consult with a St Louis car accident lawyer at Brown & Brown. You can schedule this meeting by calling us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office. You can also email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen.
