St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer Blog

New accident statistics have been released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Statistics show that more than 800 people died in car accidents in St. Louis and elsewhere throughout the state in 2010. While this is a small decrease in the total number traffic accident fatalities from 2009, there is still much more that needs to be done to make our roadways safe for everyone.

According to the newly released report, about 33,000 people died in car accidents in 2010 across the United States. While this is a decrease in the total number of traffic fatalities from 2009 to 2010, there were a few accident categories that experienced an increase, including fatalities among motorcyclists, large truck occupants, bicyclists and pedestrians.

St. Louis car accident attorneys understand that while the total number of 2010 traffic fatalities did in fact decrease from the 2009 totals, the number of accidents started to increase during the last part of the year. As the economy continues to recover, drivers will start driving even more, which will increase our risk for a traffic accident. Despite the reported decrease, drivers are asked to remain cautious and alert behind the wheel to avoid a potentially fatal collision.

Transportation officials point out that the 2010 totals are the lowest they've been since 1949. Again, while this should be positive news, the fact that accidents are increasing is alarming for transportation officials and for motorists nationwide.

"While we have more work to do to continue to protect American motorists, these numbers show we're making historic progress when it comes to improving safety on our nation's roadways," said U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary LaHood.

To help get a better look into accident trends in the U.S., the NHTSA has launched two new measures that are used to better target the most common accidents we see on our roadways. These two new measured include the "distraction-affected crashes" and "alcohol-related crashes." Distraction-related accidents took the lives of nearly 3,100 people in 2010, while alcohol-related accidents will account for about a third of all fatal accidents.

Key Findings of the 2010 Motor Vehicle Crashes Overview:

-Nearly 33,000 people died in traffic accidents.

-Nearly 2.25 million people were injured in traffic accidents.

-Fatal alcohol-related car accidents involving van drivers actually increased.

-The number of fatalities among vehicle occupants who were retained at the time of an accident experienced an increased.

-There were twenty states that experienced an increase in the total number of accidents.

-Fatalities among motorcyclists over the age of 50 increased, while the number of fatalities among riders under the age of 50 actually decreased.

-Accidents in urban areas increased significantly, while the number of rural-area accidents decreased slightly.

Drivers are asked to remain cautious and alert on our roadways. A significant number of these accidents are in fact preventable with responsible driving habits. Be safe and enjoy the remainder of the year.