Highway crashes claimed a total of 42,815 lives in 2002, up from 42,196 in 2001.
Alcohol-related fatalities remained at 41 percent of the total with 17,419 deaths in 2002, up slightly from 17,400 in 2001. Historically, the majority of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes were not wearing safety belts; that trend continued in 2002 with 59 percent of deceased crash victims not buckled up.
Crash-related injuries decreased from 3.03 million in 2001 to a record low of 2.92 million in 2002. The largest decrease in injuries was reported among occupants of passenger cars. NHTSA credited tougher federal safety standards and improved vehicle safety design for the decrease in injuries.
Fatalities in rollover crashes accounted for 82 percent of the total fatality increase in 2002. In 2002, 10,666 people died in rollover crashes, up 5 percent from 10,157 in 2001. The number of persons killed in sport utility vehicles (SUVs) that rolled over rose 14 percent. Sixty-one percent of all SUV fatalities involved rollovers.
NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) also shows that, in 2002:
Mineta pushes for tougher safety laws
"The Bush Administration is committed to improving safety on our highways safety is our highest transportation priority," said Secretary Mineta. "We have proposed a comprehensive series of initiatives to help make highways safer, and I personally urge states to pass tough laws prohibiting drunk driving and requiring the use of safety belts. Once and for all we must resolve the national epidemic on our highways."
The Bush plan for traffic safety
Hoping to reduce highway carnage, the Bush Administration has proposed the Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient Transportation Equity Act of 2003 (SAFETEA). The bill would authorize spending of more than $15 billion over six years for highway safety programs, more than double the amount currently funded by Congress.
SAFETEA would also create a new safety belt incentive program to strongly encourage states to enact seat belt laws and achieve substantially higher safety belt use rates.
"If you drink and drive or fail to wear your safety belt, taking those risks may cost you your life," said NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge, MD. "On the other hand, driving sober and wearing a belt will significantly increase your chance of survival on the highway."
NHTSA estimates that highway crashes cost Americans at least $230.6 billion a year, about $820 per person.