Although the nation's highway fatality rate is dropping and alcohol-related crashes are down slightly, SUV deaths and motorcycle fatalities are up. Overall, 42,800 people died on the nation's highways in 2004, up slightly from 42,643 in 2003, according to projected 2004 data compiled by the Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The number of people killed in SUVs and in rollovers rose last year despite the overall highway fatality rate falling to the lowest level ever, NHTSA said.
While fewer people were killed in cars and pickups, the number of SUV deaths rose from 4,446 to 4,666. SUV rollover deaths shot up 6.9 percent, and SUV driver deaths related to alcohol use increased 8.5 percent.
The report also projects the seventh straight increase in motorcycle fatalities. In 2004, 3,927 motorcyclists died, a 7.3 percent increase. In 2003, there were 3,661 motorcycle fatalities, the report said.
Consumer advocates say additional safety requirements under consideration are justified since the overall number of deaths has remained steady for a decade. The Senate Commerce Committee approved several safety mandates, including several intended to protect people in rollover accidents.
In its preliminary projections of fatality statistics for 2004, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 42,800 people were killed on U.S. highways, up from 42,643 in 2003.
"We are in the midst of a national epidemic," U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta said. "If this many people were to die from any one disease in a single year, Americans would demand a vaccine. We already have the best vaccine available to reduce the death toll on our highways -- safety belts."
Nationally, the key measure of the death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled fell to 1.46 from 1.48. It's the lowest level since NHTSA began tracking data nearly four decades ago. Seat-belt use reached an all-time high - 80 percent - last year. But 56 percent of the people killed in vehicles last year were not wearing seat belts.
NHTSA's report projects a fatality rate of 1.46 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), a drop from a record low of 1.48 in 2003, Mineta said.
Traffic crashes come at an enormous cost to society, Mineta noted. NHTSA estimates show that highway crashes cost society $230.6 billion a year, about $820 per person.
NHTSA also is projecting the following changes between 2003 and 2004:
- Injuries dropped from 2.9 million to 2.8 million, a decline of 4.6 percent.
- Overall alcohol-related fatalities dropped 2.1 percent from 17,013 to 16,654. At positive blood alcohol content (BAC) levels under .08, fatalities dropped 9.8 percent.
- Passenger car occupant fatalities declined by 2.4 percent and pickup deaths dropped 2.0 percent while sport utility vehicle (SUV) deaths rose 4.9 percent.
- In 2004, 56 percent of occupants killed in passenger vehicles were not wearing safety belts, a rate that was unchanged.
- Pedestrian deaths declined 3.2 percent from 4,749 to 4,598 in 2004.
- Fatalities from large truck crashes increased slightly from 4,986 to 5,169 in 2004.
- The number of fatal crashes involving young drivers (16-20) increased slightly (from 7,353 in 2003 to 7,405).
- In 2004, vehicle miles traveled increased slightly to 2.92 trillion, up from 2.89 trillion in 2003, according to the DOT's Federal Highway Administration.
- The number of registered vehicles increased from 230.8 million in 2003 to 235.4 million in 2004.
