From: Jeff.Paniati@dot.gov [mailto:Jeff.Paniati@dot.gov]
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2008 1:04 PM
To: FHWA-#ALLStaff
Subject: Good News...

FHWA Staff –

Today, the Secretary announced the release of NHTSA data on highway fatalities in 2007 (see below for full text, which includes a link to a brief summary which includes State-by-State data).  As you will see, total highway deaths in the U.S. for calendar 2007 were 41,059.  This is a very significant drop of 1,649 from the 2006 total – to put it in perspective, this means that almost 5 less people died every day in 2007; 5 people who returned safely to their homes and families.

This improvement builds upon the fatality decreases seen in 2006; and represents an historic low rate of 1.37 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.  It’s important to recognize that these 2007 figures reflect successes prior to the fairly dramatic decreases being seen in vehicle-miles traveled and increases in fuel prices beginning in early 2008, which appear to be contributing to additional safety improvements this year. 

When the 2006 figures were announced last summer, Associate Administrator for Safety Jeff Lindley wrote a note of congratulations to Division Administrators to especially recognize the hard work that they and their staffs put in to help make this happen.  As Jeff pointed out and as you all know, it’s quite difficult to identify the precise reasons why we are seeing this dramatic improvement – for both highway safety overall and for specific crashes, outcomes are the result of a complex set of factors involving the driver, the vehicle, and the roadway environment.  While acknowledging that we don’t have definitive “why is this happening” answers on a national level, I do believe that this success in increasing ‘lives saved’ is strongly supported by efforts FHWA staff throughout the country are making in cooperation with our partners.  During 2007, we worked to implement the second full year of SAFETEA-LU enhanced funding and strategic focus for highway safety, and continued efforts to integrate safety into key programmatic and decision-making processes.  FHWA staff affect safety in many different ways and I congratulate you all for your contributions to these positive trends.

As the Secretary points out, far too many people are still getting killed or seriously injured.  We must be diligent in continuing and expanding our efforts to improve safety.  It is important for us to look closely at factors which contribute to deaths and serious injuries and to learn more about what strategies and actions are working, so that we can continue and even accelerate this positive trend.  The recent guidance memo from the Office of Safety on the Implementation of Proven Safety Countermeasures is a good place to start.

I hope the knowledge that we are saving lives will help motivate us all in this important work.

Jeff

Thursday, August 14, 2008
DOT 113-08
Contact: Brian Turmail
Tel.: (202) 366-4570

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters Announces Historic Drop in Highway Fatalities and Rate
Motorcycle fatalities still rising, Secretary Peters says, while announcing increased safety, drunk driving outreach and enforcement efforts

WASHINGTON – The number of people who died on the nation’s roads dropped again last year, reaching historically low levels, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.

Secretary Peters said that in 2007, the overall number of traffic fatalities fell to 41,059, the lowest number since 1994. In addition, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.37, the lowest fatality rate on record, she noted.

The Secretary added that 2.49 million people were injured in highway crashes last year, the lowest seen since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began collecting injury data in 1988.

“Thanks to safer vehicles, aggressive law enforcement and our efforts, countless families were spared the devastating news that a loved one was not coming home last year,” Secretary Peters said. “You can be sure that we’re not stopping here, the quest is not over until that bottom line number is zero.”

She noted, for example, that motorcycle safety continues to be a problem. Motorcycle fatalities now account for 13 percent of all fatalities and, in 2007 alone, the number of motorcycle riders or passengers killed on the nation’s roads increased 6.6 percent over the previous year, the Secretary said.

To address these challenges, Secretary Peters announced the launch of new advertisements that focus on motorcycle safety and drunk driving. They can be viewed at http://www.stopimpaireddriving.org/planners/crackdown2008/planner/index.cfm

Tomorrow, the Department will kick off its annual impaired driving enforcement crackdown called, “Drunk Driving. Over the limit. Under Arrest.” The effort runs through Labor Day.

During today’s announcement, made outside of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District headquarters, Secretary Peters viewed a motorcycle safety demonstration.

Secretary Peters added that the Department will continue its efforts to combat impaired driving, increase safety belt use and improve motorcycle safety.

“As these new statistics show, we are making progress, but far too many of our friends, neighbors and family members are still getting killed or seriously injured,” Secretary Peters said.

The Department collects crash statistics annually from 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to produce annual reports on fatalities and injuries. To view the 2007 report in its entirety, please visit
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811017.PDF

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