According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the first three months of 2012 show a large increase in traffic fatalities due to distracted driving. Officials compared statistics from the previous year with 2012 and it shows that there was a 13.5% increase in fatalities.
In the first quarter of 2012, 7,630 people died from accidents compared to the same period in 2011, where 6,720 people died.
The first quarter of the year typically has less accidents, due to less people driving on the road because of weather conditions. However, 2012′s winter was a significantly warm one so more people were out on the roads. Weather is a significant contributor to higher fatal crashes.
Transit officials need to improve drivers safety while on the road. As well as people need to follow the laws. Many drivers are ignoring the fact that texting or talking on a cellphone while driving is illegal in many states. Distraction is a large contributor to fatal car accidents. It is not that people do not know how to drive, but many people are not paying attention when they do. Young drivers tend to speed more, be more aggressive while out on the road which in turn cause fatal crashes.
According to the Department of Transportation, traffic fatalities peaked in the U.S. with a record breaking of 54,589 fatal car crashes. Since then the numbers have been dropping because of driving laws and programs to help drivers.
Accident reports are collected from police reports and other sources.
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