Out of all the vehicles on the road, passenger vehicles make up the largest demographic at roughly 90 percent of all the vehicles registered. In addition to having the largest demographic, passenger vehicles also account for 90 percent of the total vehicle miles traveled on American roadways.
More Vehicles and Fewer Accidents
In a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it was reported that from 1999 to 2008, passenger vehicle registrations increased by 20 percent. It is easy to assume that with more cars on the road there would be more accidents. Yet, according to the NHTSA, this is not the case as fatalities have decreased across the board.Fatalities significantly decreased for SUV’s, however, which went from a rate of 16.44 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 10.33 per 100,000 in 2008. From this simple figure we can gather the assumption that over the 9-year period of the study, SUV’s have become safer to drive as a whole.
Pure and Simple: seat belts Save Lives
It has continuously been shown in tests that wearing a seat belt can save lives. With seat belt awareness on the rise and many states adopting “click-it or ticket” campaigns, more people are now wearing their seat belts. The main purpose of a seat belt is to keep you inside the vehicle in the event of an accident. In a 2008 NHTSA study, 77 percent of those who were thrown from vehicles were killed.Be Prepared
No one can predict a Southern California car accident and it is foolish to assume that you will never be involved in one. Always prepare for an accident by utilizing your seat belt, not driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and taking the necessary steps to receive proper driver's education training.We Are Here to Help
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, you should contact one of our experienced Los Angeles personal injury attorneys at Steinberg Injury Lawyers at (800) 989-6385. We are here to listen to your situation and assist you in putting your life back together.Be sure to order a FREE copy of our controversial book, 7 BIGGEST MISTAKES That Can Ruin Your California Injury Case.
