Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog
The number of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists being killed on our roadways is on the rise, yet officials are seemingly pushing this information to the side to focus on the overall reduction in fatal crashes nationwide.
According to the most recent release from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the overall number of car accidents in the U.S. was down about 2 percent last year. Sounds like good news, but not when you dig deeper into the information.
Our Boston accident lawyers understand that many residents and visitors in the area are bicyclists or pedestrians. We need cooperation from everyone, including drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists, to help to bring these numbers down. Pay more attention out there and be more considerate. These steps are easy and they’re effective. We also need to call on transportation and city officials, too. We need more programs to promote safe travel throughout the area.
“The latest numbers show how the tireless work of our safety agencies and partners, coupled with significant advances in technology and continued public education, can really make a difference on our roadways,” said U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.
Transportation officials may be focusing on safety campaigns, but if they’re not targeting our problem areas then they are virtually pointless. We need to focus more time and energy in helping our most vulnerable travelers.
Do we know why there’s been an increase among these individuals throughout our county? Officials have an idea. Many say that is was the conditions of our economy in 2011. With the economy struggling and gas prices rising, we had more Americans trying to find a more cost effective way to get around. That’s where the bikes, the walking and the public transportation comes in.
In the state of Massachusetts, we saw 337 people die in traffic accidents in 2011. That’s only 10 less than the year before. Clearly, we have a ways to go.
Overall, there were more than 32.365 people killed in traffic accidents across the U.S. last year. This was the lowest number recorded since 1949. In addition to these deaths, we also saw more than 385,000 people injured in traffic accidents.
It’s important that we continue on in the fight to reduce accident risks. This isn’t a job for just one person or one organization. We need help from everyone to get the job done. Drive safely out there to protect yourself, and to help to keep other travelers safe, too!
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an accident caused by drunk driving, contact Jeffrey S. Glassman for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case. Call (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Distracted Driving and Holiday Accident Fatalities, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 3, 2012
DUI and Holiday Accident Fatalities in Boston, Boston Car Accident Lawyer Blog, December 1, 2012