I mentioned the other day how folks are eschewing risky air travel for safer ground transportation on vacation.
From a Health & Safety message sent around to all our employees:
October was selected by over 40 national safety organization and government agencies for the Zero Traffic Fatalities campaign called “Put the Brakes on Fatalities” because it is among the peak months for traffic fatalities. October 9, 1999 was the most dangerous day of 1999 to be on the road with 207 people dying in traffic fatalities.
In 1999, motor vehicle crashes caused a total of 41,300 deaths and 5 million injuries. Substandard road conditions and run off the road crashes are a factor in about one-third of all traffic fatalities. About 77% of all fatal crashes occur on two-lane roads while only 14% of fatal crashes occur on roads with more than four lanes. Widening lanes and paved shoulders, rumble strips, and traffic separation barriers have proven to effectively reduce crashes.
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in the United States for people ages 6-33. Motor vehicle crashes are a greater threat to life than crime. In 1999, there was one murder every 34 minutes but a vehicle fatality every 13 minutes. We not be able to prevent the murders but we can prevent traffic fatalities by paying more attention to driving safely every time we sit in the driver’s seat.
Remember that, even including 9-11, only about 300 Americans have died in plane crashes so far this year.