According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the second quarter of 2016 was the seventh consecutive quarter in which fatalities rose compared to the previous year. In fact, the number of traffic deaths jumped by 10.4% to 17,775 in the first six months of this year. At least one of the culprits is likely to be the rising instance of texting while operating a motor vehicle.
The National Safety Council believes texting while driving is a factor. Drivers who are using handheld devices has increased from 0.9% in 2010 to 2.2% in 2014. For drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, the rate increases to 4.8% and young women are more likely to text than males, according to NSC research. Failure to buckle up could also be a huge problem. Half of those who died nationally were unbelted, NSC research shows.
In the state of Michigan, traffic deaths have increased 10% from 876 in 2014 to 963 in 2015. According to the Michigan Department of Transportation, this is the highest level since 2008. Drunken driving accounted for 303 deaths, or 31% of Michigan’s 2015 traffic fatalities, according to MDOT reports.
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Source: Detroit Free Press
