Traffic Deaths at Their Lowest Level in 60 Years

Whether it's due to better technology, better law enforcement or people simply being safer while driving, the number of traffic deaths is at its lowest level in 60 years according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The report finds that deaths due to vehicle crashes in 2009 dropped 9.2 percent  compared to  2008. Moreover, the fatality rate dropped 1.13 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. NHTSA credits the good news to increased seat belt use and better campaigns against drunk driving. 

The study also shows that deaths declined in multiple vehicle collisions by about 13 percent, deaths involving crashes of large trucks fell 12 percent, deaths that occurred in accidents during the weekend dropped 11 percent, and deaths in vehicles that rolled over in multiple vehicle crashes declined 19 percent. 

Moreover,  the NHTSA noted that there was a decline in deaths of 17 percent from 2007 to 2008 in crashes that involved younger drivesr age 16 to 24. Deaths in collisions involving drivers who were 25-44 years old fell about 11 percent. Deaths in collisions involving drivers between the ages of 45 and 64 fell 10 percent. And deaths in crashes involving drivers who were 65 years and older dropped 7 percent. 

However, the actual number of deaths is still scary. The report says that there were more than 30,000 people who died and 2.4 million who were injured in traffic accidents in 2009.