1999年美国交通意外死亡人数空前下降
The nation‘s highways may be safer than ever before, according to new federal statistics released Monday.
"Traffic fatality rates hit an all-time low in 1999," say officials at the US Department of Transportation (DOT). They report that traffic fatalities declined from 1.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 1998, to 1.5/100 million miles in 1999.
Every year, the DOT‘s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects data on highway deaths and injuries in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Among their findings for 1999:
— The number of deaths due to motor vehicle accidents (41,345) was slightly lower than the 41,471 persons killed in 1998. NHTSA officials note that last year 543 children under 5 years of age died as a result of traffic accidents, down from 566 in the year previous. At the same time, the number of motor vehicle-related injuries increased slightly between 1998-1999, from 3.19 million to 3.2 million.
— Alcohol and speeding remain major contributors to death on the nation‘s roadways. According to the DOT, alcohol-related deaths fell slightly — from 15,934 in 1998, to 15,794 in 1999 — while deaths involving speeding rose from 12,477 in 1998 to 12,672 in 1999.
— Pedestrian deaths fell 10% from 5,220 deaths in 1998 to 4,695 the following year. But motorcycle-related deaths rose slightly, from 2,284 in 1998 to 2,537 in 1999.
While every traffic death is a tragedy, federal officials believe American roads are much safer than in decades past. They point out that the 1999 traffic fatality rate of 1.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles is less than a third of the 5.5 per 100 million rate recorded in 1966.
A general increase in the use of seat belts may be a prime factor behind this trend, according to the DOT. "We‘ve been saying it for years and it‘s still true," said Acting NHTSA Administrator Rosalyn Millman, "buckling up saves lives." In fact, the report found that nearly two thirds (63%) of individuals killed in traffic accidents in 1999 were not using their seat belts at the time of the crash., 百拇医药
"Traffic fatality rates hit an all-time low in 1999," say officials at the US Department of Transportation (DOT). They report that traffic fatalities declined from 1.6 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 1998, to 1.5/100 million miles in 1999.
Every year, the DOT‘s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) collects data on highway deaths and injuries in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Among their findings for 1999:
— The number of deaths due to motor vehicle accidents (41,345) was slightly lower than the 41,471 persons killed in 1998. NHTSA officials note that last year 543 children under 5 years of age died as a result of traffic accidents, down from 566 in the year previous. At the same time, the number of motor vehicle-related injuries increased slightly between 1998-1999, from 3.19 million to 3.2 million.
— Alcohol and speeding remain major contributors to death on the nation‘s roadways. According to the DOT, alcohol-related deaths fell slightly — from 15,934 in 1998, to 15,794 in 1999 — while deaths involving speeding rose from 12,477 in 1998 to 12,672 in 1999.
— Pedestrian deaths fell 10% from 5,220 deaths in 1998 to 4,695 the following year. But motorcycle-related deaths rose slightly, from 2,284 in 1998 to 2,537 in 1999.
While every traffic death is a tragedy, federal officials believe American roads are much safer than in decades past. They point out that the 1999 traffic fatality rate of 1.5 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles is less than a third of the 5.5 per 100 million rate recorded in 1966.
A general increase in the use of seat belts may be a prime factor behind this trend, according to the DOT. "We‘ve been saying it for years and it‘s still true," said Acting NHTSA Administrator Rosalyn Millman, "buckling up saves lives." In fact, the report found that nearly two thirds (63%) of individuals killed in traffic accidents in 1999 were not using their seat belts at the time of the crash., 百拇医药