Federal Stats Show Alcohol, Seatbelt Use More Relevant Than Speed

Federal traffic fatality data released last week confirm that drinking, shifting demographics and seat belt use are the factors with the greatest impact on road safety. The new data show traffic fatalities continue to fall from the pre-recession peak of 1.46 deaths per hundred million miles traveled in 2005. Last year, the figure was 1.17. The preliminary 2017 number does represent an increase over the all-time low of 1.08 in 2014.In their attempt to keep those figures as low as possible, federal authorities have devoted the largest share of the national traffic safety budget to the bankrolling of speed traps, even though only 7 percent of accidents were caused by drivers exceeding the posted limit.

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