An analysis report released by the Wall Street Journal showed that deaths caused by car crashes have significantly dropped by almost 25 percent in the past decade. Researchers attributed the improvement to better car safety equipment integrated with the new car models.
The researchers obtained data from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as the basis of the report. It showed that the rate declined by 3.1 percent in 2012 and 2.1 percent in 2013. Regulators and car experts attributed the declining rate to new safety features such as the electronic stability systems included in the latest car models.
While driver skill and behavior also affect fatality rate, car experts believe that having an advanced safety gear is integral. Electronic stability control has been required in new models and is proven to save more than 1,100 lives in 2012 alone. Automakers have added more airbags to cover both the drivers and passengers.
"Cars are getting safer," David Zuby, executive vice president and research chief at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told the Wall Street Journal.
NHTSA Deputy Administrator David Friedman told the Washington Post that the drop is not only because of the safer vehicles, but also because of the stronger enforcement of the laws and increased consumer awareness efforts. For instance, campaigns against distracted driving while texting pulled the number down by nearly 7 percent.
Furthermore, the report revealed that while crash-related deaths fell significantly for cars and light trucks within the last decade, it is the opposite for motorcycles and large trucks.
Congress is currently reviewing a proposal to limit the driving hours of truck drivers to reduce the number of car crashes. Federal regulators believe that their long driving hours are compromising their rest. To lessen the number of deaths involving motorcycles, the NHTSA is planning to build bike lanes to keep them away from the rest of the traffic.
