Highway Safety

Statement

Highway Safety

In 2005, over 40,000 people lost their lives in motor-vehicle crashes, while another 2.7 million were injured. Although the number of fatalities and injuries has slightly decreased since then, there remains much to be done to enhance traffic safety.

Improvements in driving technologies and vehicle construction have contributed to the decline but scientific advances will never erase the thousands of deaths that continue to occur.

The time period from midnight to 3 a.m. on weekends proved to be the deadliest three-hour period, with fourteen fatal crashes occurring each minute. Also, 80 percent of the fatalities during this time were due to excessive alcohol consumption showing that drinking and driving after midnight is particularly deadly.

Furthermore, of crashes ending in fatality or injury for people aged 21 to 24, nearly 40 percent were a result of alcohol. Drivers from the age of 21 to 24 had the highest fatality rate, with people from 16 to 20 years of age having the highest injury rate. Males far exceeded females in fatalities.

Motor-vehicle crashes appear to be produced by three main causes - driving late at night, at excessive speeds, and under the influence of alcohol. The statistics seem to be affected significantly by age, with younger people disproportionately involved in crashes ending in fatalities and injuries.

In 2005, there were more than 380 fatal crashes in Texas involving alcohol. Those fatal crashes resulted in more than 420 deaths. There were more than 6,490 crashes in Texas involving alcohol that caused injuries. Of those, more than 10,540 people were injured.

I believe the most significant opportunities to increase highway safety lie in diminishing the role of alcohol, encouraging young drivers to stay off the streets late at night, and promoting good judgment on the road.

Although all of these recommendations can be promoted by government agencies, the most effective solution rests with families. Cultivating a culture of responsibility among young people is a task that should start with the family and so begins at home.

The Texas Highway Patrol offers an education and awareness website. To find this information, log onto http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/ses/index.htm. You may also reach out to the Highway Patrol Troopers for safety presentations for your school, group or business.

Source