Throughout Connecticut, serious injury and death in car accidents continues to be a worrisome problem. Just how problematic it is can be discerned by gauging circumstances, assessing statistics and formulating an analysis to create strategies to reduce the number of crashes. One recent study from the National Safety Council (NSC) indicates that the number of fatalities in crashes in the U.S. has remained stagnant at more than 40,000. People who have been in accidents and had injuries and those who have lost a loved one should be aware of these numbers to be prepared to file a claim to be compensated.
For the third consecutive year, fatalities in auto accidents surpassed 40,000. In 2018, there was a reduction of approximately 1 percent from 2017. However, the total has risen by 14 percent from 2014. In other studies, fatalities because of distracted driving because of smartphones, driving at excessive speeds and driving under the influence was also decreasing. Other dangers could be causing the numbers to remain static. These include infotainment systems and people using alcohol and marijuana in states where the drug is legal. Still, 8 percent of accidents are due to a distracted driver. 2 percent are due to drowsy drivers.
In the NSC report, factors in the decrease in accidents include safety additions in vehicles like crash warnings and automatic emergency brakes. Many vehicles are not equipped with these features yet, despite their growing use.
The NSC says that the death toll is staying troublingly consistent because of driver behaviors. It is believed that being proactive with trying to find solutions to the problem is a way to prevent these accidents. Finding what is successful, using available technology and encouraging drivers to be safe are ways to lower the number of deaths.
