The number of US highway deaths rose to 33,561 in 2012, an increase of 3.3 percent (1,082 deaths) compared to 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said earlier this week.
The agency reports that the majority of the increase in deaths - 72 percent - occurred in the first quarter of the year, with most of those involved being motorcyclists and pedestrians. Up 7.1 percent over 2011, motorcycle rider fatalities increased for the third consecutive year.
While the newly released data marks the first increase since 2005, highway deaths over the past five years continue to remain at historic lows, the NHTSA notes, adding that estimates for the first half of 2013 show a 4.2 percent decrease.
"Highway deaths claim more than 30,000 lives each year, and while we’ve made substantial progress over the past 50 years, it’s clear that we have much more work to do," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "As we look to the future, we must focus our efforts to tackle persistent and emerging issues that threaten the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians across the nation."
While the newly released data marks the first increase since 2005, highway deaths over the past five years continue to remain at historic lows, the NHTSA notes, adding that estimates for the first half of 2013 show a 4.2 percent decrease.
"Highway deaths claim more than 30,000 lives each year, and while we’ve made substantial progress over the past 50 years, it’s clear that we have much more work to do," said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. "As we look to the future, we must focus our efforts to tackle persistent and emerging issues that threaten the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians across the nation."
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