Accidents by the Numbers

While we have had some success in reducing the number of automobile crashes in the U.S., it’s still a major problem. We need to keep working on the problem to minimize needless cost and needless human misery.

Here are some important driving statistics according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
In 2008, 37,261 people lost their lives in motor vehicle crashes – a decrease of 9.7% from 2007.

An average of 102 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2008 – one every 14 minutes.

In 2008, 2,346,000 people were injured in motor vehicle crashes.

In 2008 motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for every age from 3 through 6 and 8 through 34.

Vehicle occupants accounted for approximately 72% and motorcycle riders accounted for 14% of traffic fatalities in 2008. The remaining 14% were pedestrians, pedal cyclists, and other non-occupants.

The annual cost of vehicle crashes is $230.6 billion.

The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by NHTSA to be $40.4 billion per year. In 2008, speeding was a contributing factor in almost 31% of all fatal crashes, and 11,674 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes.

While the benefit of taking DefensiveDriving.com is ticket dismissal or point reduction, it is also our goal to save lives.  By using our course as a corporate driver training tool, employers can save their most precious assets: their employees.