Traffic safety advocates follow trends on the roads, always with the hope that fewer people were hurt or killed than in years before. Unfortunately, last year was not a major safety improvement for Pennsylvania motorists. More people were lost to fatal crashes than in 2011.
Being that we are already well into 2013, it is important to identify the apparent areas of weakness regarding traffic safety in the state in order to make this a safer year. The following are the positive and negative Pennsylvania accident trends of 2012:
- In total, 1,310 people died in traffic accidents (24 more than in 2011.)
- More seniors died in traffic accidents than in 2011.
- More pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents than in 2011.
- More motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents than in 2011.
- Fewer teens were killed in traffic accidents than in 2011.
- Slightly fewer people were killed in cell phone-related accidents that in 2011.
What do the above trends suggest? AAA offers services for seniors that aim to provide them help to assess and improve their driving. The population in Pennsylvania is aging and more seniors are behind the wheel. A focus on continued driver’s education could, some suggest, make for many saved lives.
PennDOT research indicates that there are more motorcyclists and pedestrians on the roads because traveling without a car can save money in this stressful economic time. That increase could make for the increase in deaths among those groups but also suggests that drivers need to better share the roads with bikers and pedestrians.
When a loved one is lost to a motor vehicle accident, his surviving family doesn’t really care about traffic safety trends. They care about holding a careless party accountable and about getting the help that they need to move on with their lives during a time of sadness and stress. The PennDOT reports simply highlight what dangers are on the road.
Our Harrisburg personal injury attorneys help victims of motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents and more seek justice and compensation.
Source: phillyburbs, “Pennsylvania highways deadlier last year; locally alcohol-related deaths dominate,” Jo Ciavaglia, April 5, 2013