Our Charlotte North Carolina car accident attorneys continue to remind drivers to drive defensively and always wear seatbelts.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just released its finding on motor vehicle accidents that occurred in 2009. According to their study, traffic deaths in 2009 were at their lowest rate since 1950. Despite an increase over 2008 in the estimated miles driven annually, traffic related fatalities in 2009 were 1.13 deaths per 100 million miles driven compared to 1.26 deaths per 100 million miles driven in 2008. Even motorcycle deaths were down, following an 11 year stretch of increasing every year.
In North Carolina, total traffic fatalities in 2009 decreased by 8% from 2008, and alcohol related fatalities dropped 14% from 2008. Alcohol related traffic fatalities in North Carolina represented 28% of all traffic fatalities in 2009, compared to 30% in 2008. The national average was a 9.7% decrease in total traffic fatalities from 2008 to 2009, and a 7.4% decrease in alcohol related traffic fatalities.
Despite the decrease in highway deaths, seatbelt use is still too low. The study found that of all traffic related deaths in 2009, more than half (53%) of the decedents were not wearing seatbelts. The study did not address whether those unrestrained victims would have survived had they been properly restrained.
Our Charlotte, North Carolina personal injury law firm cannot stress enough the importance of wearing your seatbelt and properly restraining young children. Countless lives can be saved with the simple act of buckling up.
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