Authored By: Iris Garrett

Personal injury attorneys know a thing or two about automobile accidents. They see firsthand the type of physical, mental, and financial toll a crash can have on a victim and their families, and it’s not good. Yet, despite the impact of these accidents on a victim and their legal representation, car accidents continue to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States, especially for young people.

In an article in The Legal Examiner, Attorney Matthew Casey describes this upward trend in America’s crash data. He says in 2015 alone, more than 30,000 people lost their lives behind the wheel, and millions of others were injured. To make matters worse, Casey says 94% of these accidents were caused by human error, something he says is entirely preventable.

Casey says more often than not, drivers travel too fast for road conditions. He says they drive recklessly, they drive under the influence, and they drive while trying to send a text or update social media. Casey says unless people stop making bad choices and start operating their vehicles in a safe manner, the numbers will only go up.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration sees it Casey’s way, too. The agency has launched a new strategic safety plan to cut down on the overwhelming number of motor vehicle fatalities and zero in on impaired and distracted driving. “The Road Ahead” outlines three key areas the agency is hoping to improve this year and in the future:

Proactive Vehicle Safety – Holding auto manufacturers and suppliers accountable, faster and better detection of defects, and increasing recall participation.

Advanced Vehicle Safety Technologies – Focusing on the development of automated safety features.

Human Factors – Addressing drunk, drugged, or distracted driving and working with law enforcement to crack down on these violations before they cause accidents.

You can learn more about the NHTSA’s plan here.

Casey says “The Road Ahead” plan is great way to make our nation’s highways and roads safer, but without a team effort, the plan won’t make it that far. He says that we all have the opportunity to eliminate preventable crashes, the only roadblock is you.

To read Attorney Matthew Casey’s full article, click here.

Photo Credit: Tracy Fox