Bob Noel wrote:
In article . com,
"cjcampbell" wrote:
The following are all years in which the traffic fatalities were over
50,000
(not all years between 1966-1976 where in the 2004 report)
1966
1970
1978-1980
But the 43440 in 2005 is the highest since 1990.
(source www.nhtsa.dot.gov)
Funny how the highest traffic fatality rates were during the years of
the 55mph speed limit.
The numbers given were total fatalities, not rates.
The TSF2004.pdf available somewhere on www.nhtsa.dot.gov (I don't
remember where) shows the fatality RATE pretty much decreasing each year
since 1966. As with any statistic it is essential to ask why. Possible
explanations include (1) improved vehicle safety, (2) improved road safety
(e.g., better guard rails), and (3) medical improvements.
I remember reading in the Wall Street Journal that better tires
accounted for more than half of it.