FYI
Heidi A. Hotz, RN,
President, Society of Trauma Nurses
> ----------
> From: Trauma-EMS Librarian[SMTP:trauma-l@trauma-ems.org]
> Reply To: Trauma-EMS Librarian
> Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 5:42 AM
> To: Trauma-EMS Listserv
> Subject: DOT 2002 Highway Fatality & Injury Estimates
>
> NHTSA 13-03
> Wednesday, April 23, 2003
> Contact: Rae Tyson
> Telephone: (202) 366-9550
>
> DOT Releases Preliminary Estimates Of 2002 Highway Fatalities
>
> Alcohol-related highway fatalities increased again in 2002 while the
> majority of passenger vehicle occupants killed were not wearing safety
> belts, according to preliminary estimates from the U. S. Department of
> Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
>
> With overall highway fatalities also up slightly from 2001, the grim
> statistics underscore the need for better state laws that address the
> causes of the problem and stricter enforcement. In 2002, an estimated
> 42,850 people died on the nation's highways, up from 42,116 in 2001. The
> fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) remained
> unchanged at 1.51, according to preliminary estimates.
>
> It was the highest number of fatalities since 1990.
>
> "If we are ever going to reduce the needless deaths on the nation's
> highways, we're going to need the American public to bear greater
> responsibility for their personal safety," said U.S. Transportation
> Secretary Norman Y. Mineta.
>
> Fatalities in rollover crashes involving sport utility vehicles and pickup
> trucks accounted for 53 percent of the increase in traffic deaths. In
> 2002, 10,626 people died in rollover crashes, up 4.9 percent from 10,130
> in 2001.
>
> The preliminary report also notes some significant progress.
>
> NHTSA said that deaths of children seven and under dropped to historic low
> levels. In 2002, 980 children seven and under were killed, down from 1,053
> in 2001. Pedestrian deaths also declined to 4,776, a 2.2 percent drop from
> 2001. The number of persons injured in crashes also declined from an
> estimated 3,033,000 in 2001 to 2,914,000 in 2002, almost a four percent
> drop.
>
> NHTSA earlier estimated that highway crashes cost society $230.6 billion a
> year, about $820 per person.
>
> "As a nation, we should be outraged over the loss of nearly 43,000 of our
> friends, neighbors and family members," said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey
> Runge, M.D. "All of us - individuals as well as government - should
> resolve to make highway safety our highest public health priority."
>
> The preliminary 2002 statistics also continue to show the increased risk
> of death and injury when drivers and passengers do not wear safety belts:
> 59 percent of those killed in crashes last year were not belted.
>
> NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) also shows that, in
> 2002:
>
> --Motorcycle fatalities increased for the fifth year in a row following
> years of steady improvement. A total of 3,276 riders died, up three
> percent from 2001. Deaths among riders 50 and over increased 24 percent.
>
> --Of the total, alcohol-related deaths in 2002 accounted for 42 percent -
> 17,970 deaths - up from 41 percent (17,448) in 2001. Deaths in low alcohol
> crashes (.01-.07 blood alcohol content) dropped 7.2 percent to 2,335
> deaths. Deaths of persons in high alcohol crashes (.08 BAC and above)
> rose 4.7 percent. Alcohol-related fatalities have been rising steadily
> since 1999.
>
> --Fatalities from large truck crashes dropped from 5,082 in 2001 to 4,902
> in 2002, a 3.5 percent decline.
>
> --Young drivers (16-20) were involved in 7,722 fatal crashes in 2002, up
> slightly from 7,598 in 2001.
>
> --The number of occupant fatalities for children ages eight to 15
> increased by nearly nine percent.
>
> --In 2002, vehicle miles traveled increased slightly to 2.83 trillion, up
> from 2.78 trillion in 2001, according to the DOT's Federal Highway
> Administration.
>
> NHTSA annually collects crash statistics from 50 states and the District
> of Columbia to produce the annual report on traffic fatality trends. The
> final 2002 report, pending completion of data collection and quality
> control verification, will be available in August. Summaries of the
> preliminary report are available on the NHTSA web site at:
>
> <http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-
> 30/NCSA/Rpts/2003/2002EARelease.pdf>
>
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