traffic fatalities

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Traffic Deaths Rise, Despite Supposedly Safer Cars

Experts aren't sure what's causing rise in fatalities, though signs point to bigger sales of larger vehicles

(Newser) - Alyssa Milligan was someone who intuitively knew when another person needed help, encouragement, or a kind word. Although she was new to Tennessee, the 23-year old physical therapy student, whose mother called her "Sweet Alyssa," had already made many close connections, especially within the tight-knit cycling community around...

Overturned Truck With Toxic Cargo Causes 'Multiple' Deaths

Area around Illinois accident evacuated due to plume from ammonia leak near Teutopolis

(Newser) - A semitruck carrying anhydrous ammonia overturned in Illinois, causing "multiple fatalities" and prompting an evacuation of area residents, police said Saturday. The accident, which involved "multiple" vehicles, happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis on US Highway 40 on Friday at about 9:25pm local time, Illinois State...

3 Killed as Bus Collides With 3 Semis

At least 3 dead, 14 injured in early morning crash in Illinois

(Newser) - A Greyhound bus traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis crashed into three semi-trucks parked on a highway exit ramp in Illinois early Wednesday, leaving a chaotic scene with at least three dead. At least 14 people were taken to the hospital by helicopter or ambulance, according to Illinois State Police,...

Biker Who Fought to Overturn Helmet Law Dies Ironically

Ron Smith, Brenda Volpe weren't wearing helmets when they died of head trauma in crash

(Newser) - A Florida lawyer who aggressively fought to overturn a state law requiring bikers to wear helmets died in a crash with his girlfriend. Neither were wearing helmets. Ron Smith, 66, and Brenda Jeanan Volpe, 62, were on their first ride with the American Legion Post 173 in Holiday on Aug....

US Traffic Deaths Fall but Remain at Crisis Levels

Quarterly dip follows 7 straight increases

(Newser) - The number of people killed on US roadways fell slightly from April through June, the first decline in two years. But the government says the number of deaths remains at a crisis level. Estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that 20,175 people died in crashes from...

DOT in 'Crisis' Mode Over New Stats on Road Fatalities

They've hit a 15-year high, with more than 20K dead in US during first half of 2021

(Newser) - With more people back in schools and offices, that means there are more people on the road. But time stuck at home apparently hasn't done any favors for our driving skills, based on new stats from the Department of Transportation that show the highest number of traffic fatalities in...

Crash Near Border Kills at Least 15
Crash Near Border
Kills at Least 15
Mar 2, 2021 12:28 PM CST

Crash Near Border Kills at Least 15

SUV carrying 27 people hit tractor-trailer in California

(Newser) - Fourteen people died at the site of a two-vehicle accident Tuesday morning near the US-Mexico, when an SUV carrying 27 people slammed into a tractor-trailer filled with gravel. One person died later at a hospital, and another nine were hospitalized, Fox 13 reports. Three people were in intensive care in...

Honeymoon Trip Turns Tragic for Utah Couple

Authorities think Amy Moffat fell asleep at the wheel

(Newser) - A couple on their honeymoon died Sunday in a rollover crash in southern Washington. Authorities believe Amy Moffat, 28, fell asleep at the wheel of the red Ford F-150 while driving on I-82 near Prosser, KSL reports. As the truck drifted to the left, she reportedly overcorrected, which caused the...

A 50-Year Downward Trend in Traffic Deaths Just Ended

More than 35K people died in car crashes in 2015

(Newser) - Last year, 35,092 people died in car crashes, according to numbers released Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NPR reports it was a 7.2% increase over 2014—the largest single-year increase since 1966 and, according to a press release , the end of a 50-year downward trend...

10 Cities With Highest Speeds in Fatal Crashes

Slow down, California

(Newser) - Tourists may be wary of hailing a speeding cab in Manhattan, but the Big Apple doesn't even fall in the top 20 "fastest" US cities, let alone the top 10, per an Auto Insurance Center examination of speeding deaths across the country. The center looked at more than...

Top 10 Deadliest States for Pedestrians

Walkers, beware

(Newser) - If you would rather not get plowed into by a car during your evening stroll, Minnesota might be a better place to settle down than New Mexico. That's according to recent stats compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which examined traffic accident data to see which states...

'Dark Day' for Pedestrians: Fastest Jump in Death Rate Ever

Fatalities expected to spike 10% from 2014 to 2015: GHSA report

(Newser) - Traffic fatalities increased 8.1% in 2015 from the previous year, per a National Safety Council study cited by Autoblog , but one group has been especially affected: pedestrians, who are projected to show a 10% increase in fatalities compared to 2014, per a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association....

Traffic Deaths Spike for Teen Drivers

Fatalities for those ages 16, 17 rise 19%

(Newser) - An improving economy means more cars on the road, and traffic safety officials expected the number of deaths among young drivers to increase as a result. But not this much: The number of 16- and 17-year-old drivers killed in traffic accidents jumped 19% in the first six months of 2012,...

Gun Deaths Will Exceed Traffic Deaths in US by 2015
Gun Deaths Will Exceed Traffic Deaths in US by 2015
study says
Dec 20, 2012 12:18 PM CST

Gun Deaths Will Exceed Traffic Deaths in US by 2015

And in 10 states, they already do

(Newser) - A disturbing new study by Bloomberg finds that by 2015, the number of people killed by guns in the US will likely surpass the number of people killed in traffic accidents. It would be a first. Vehicle deaths are on the decline (down 22% between 2005 and 2010), but gun...

Cyclists, Beware: Bike Deaths Take Big Jump

Rise 8.7% in 2011

(Newser) - Last year was a good year for road warriors—so long as they were on four wheels, not two. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration today released its analysis of 2011 traffic deaths, and overall fatalities sank 1.9% to 32,367, outpacing the 1.2% drop in the number...

Traffic Deaths Jump Record 9%

First half of the year sees biggest increase on record

(Newser) - Traffic fatalities jumped 9% in the first half of the year, the highest first-half increase since the government began tracking the deaths, CNN reports. Motor vehicle crashes killed about 16,000 people between January and June, according to a statistical projection. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn't speculate...

4th of July Deadliest Day on US Roads

Teens make up 10% of day's traffic deaths, AAA warns

(Newser) - Independence Day is no time to forget about road safety, AAA warns. Today is the deadliest day of the year for American drivers, with an average 140 fatalities, and teenage drivers and their passengers account for nearly a tenth of those deaths, reports the Los Angeles Times . Road deaths in...

Drug Deaths Soar Past Traffic Fatalities

 Drug Deaths Soar 
 Past Traffic Fatalities 
Dubious Firsts
Sep 18, 2011 6:07 AM CDT

Drug Deaths Soar Past Traffic Fatalities

Blame prescription drugs for drug-related deaths doubling over decade

(Newser) - For the first time since the government started tracking drug-related deaths in 1979, narcotics have topped traffic fatalities—37,485 for drugs vs. 36,284 for accidents in 2009 (the most recent year available), reports the LA Times . But the big culprit isn't street drugs: it's prescription pills...

Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low
 Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low 
Apr 1, 2011 3:28 AM CDT

Traffic Deaths Hit 61-Year Low

2010 least deadly year on American roads since 1949

(Newser) - Some 32,788 people died on American roads in 2010, the smallest number since Harry Truman was in the White House—and there were a lot fewer people on the roads back then. Last year saw the fewest traffic accident deaths since 1949, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration...

City Roads Are Safest
 City Roads Are Safest 
Jan 25, 2011 3:52 PM CST

City Roads Are Safest

Highest crash fatalities occur in rural areas, says study

(Newser) - Motorists are much more likely to die in a crash in a rural area than in an urban one, USA Today reports. That generalization is reflected in the latest federal data on traffic fatalities, which show that the lowest fatality rates occur in Washington, DC, and Massachusetts, while the highest...

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