U.S. highway deaths in 2010 fell to the lowest level ever recorded. The attached announcement from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes 32,885 highway deaths, a reduction from 2009, even though highway miles traveled increased by 46 billion miles.
In explaining the Agency's emphasis on distracted driving and its data-collection efforts to measure it, an interesting survey about attitudes regarding distracted driving was mentioned. For example, three quarters of drivers reporting their willingness to answer cell phone calls on all, most, or some trips. Most drivers also noted their willingness to send a text message while driving, while at the same time reporting that if they were a passenger, they'd feel "very unsafe" if the driver was texting. The data seems to support a classic do as I say not as I do attitude toward texting while driving.
It is certainly laudable that highway fatalities continue to decrease. However, its difficult to feel pleased with only 32,000 deaths per year. The toll from highway accidents is significant, but at least the trend is heading in the right direction.
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