If you look at traffic fatalities statistics, one interesting thing that you’ll find is that they have been increasing lately. This is concerning because the statistics are generally going down over time. But, that seems to have reversed in recent years.
An overall downward trend doesn’t mean the fatality totals go down year after year, of course, so this could be a minor blip. But it could also be an indication that the roads are getting more dangerous. That impacts everyone, so it’s important to understand.
Why is this happening? Here’s what you should know:
Impaired driving is on the rise
One thing that researchers found is that more and more drivers are operating their vehicles while under the influence. A higher rate of impaired driving is going to lead to more accidents on the whole, and these accidents have a high likelihood of being fatal.
People are driving faster
Interestingly, they also found that speeding is becoming more common. This could indicate that people are more likely to drive recklessly. Speeding is certainly not something new, but it has been linked to more of these fatal accidents.
Less seatbelt use
Lack of seatbelt use also continues to be an issue. Seatbelts are one of the simplest ways that people can protect themselves. They may not prevent all injuries. Yet, they drastically lower the odds that the crash will be fatal. When people don’t use them, those odds go back up again.
If you’ve been involved in a traffic accident that was caused by another driver, you may need to make sure you know how to seek compensation for things like funeral costs, medical bills, lost wages and much more.
