WASHINGTON–Decades of efforts by the insurance industry and other driving safety advocates to emphasize highway safety are cutting the death rate on roadways, but more can be done, an American Insurance Association study has found.
It is "sobering to realize that motor vehicle injuries and fatalities continue at an unacceptable rate," the AIA said.
Their analysis was released coinciding with the Labor Day weekend, which the AIA noted is one of the busiest periods of the summer driving season.
The AIA cited recently released federal highway data showing a continuing drop in motor vehicle fatality rates over the 40-year period from 1966 to 2006, as well as a decline in the motor vehicle traffic injury rate.
The statistics also show that these increased safety numbers are happening as Americans take to the road in ever-increasing numbers.
"The insurance industry has been a strong safety advocate when it comes to automobiles, roads and drivers," said David Snyder, AIA vice president and assistant general counsel.
"We continue to press the case for increased safety measures, better vehicle designs, seatbelt use, anti-drunk driving measures, graduated licensing, motorcycle helmet and electronic enforcement laws," Mr. Snyder said
"Finally, the most important thing drivers can do beyond complying with the laws is to drive defensively without distraction while always wearing safety belts," he added.
According to AIA, Americans drove nearly one trillion miles in 1966, compared with nearly 3 trillion in 2006.
Over those 40 years, the motor vehicle traffic fatality rate dropped from 5.50 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 1966 to a record low 1.42 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2006, the analysis said.
AIA's study goes a step further to highlight how safety efforts of the insurance industry and other groups have made a difference.
The group said that if motorists in 2006 had driven that same nearly 3 trillion miles with the 1988 injury rate, the number of injuries would have virtually doubled in 2006 to over 5 million, and the number of fatalities in 2006 would have increased by about 27,000.
The AIA analysis also goes back 40 years to 1966 to track potential fatalities with the same methodology, showing that fatalities in 2006 would have totaled 164,681–nearly fourfold the actual 2006 total.
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