Automobile Accident Causes and Statistics The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 31,110 people died in crashes from January through October, 2008, compared with 34,502 during the same period in 2007. According to the Illinois Department of Health a total of 1,389 people lost their lives as a result of motor vehicle accidents in 2006. The statistics reflect a time when Americans were driving significantly less because of high gasoline prices. The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced that Americans drove 8.9 billion fewer miles in October of 2008 than in October, 2007, which represents the 12th straight month of decline. In that 12-month period, drivers in this country logged 100 billion fewer miles that in the prior 12-month period. However, it appears that today more than ever, Americans are distracted behind the wheel. Legislatures across the country are recognizing that distractions from multi-tasking can be dangerous as they stiffen penalties for driving while using cell phones, text messaging, putting on make-up or eating. The use of consumer electronics while driving, especially among teen drivers, can increase the likelihood of accidents on the road. A 2006 study conducted by the NHTSA attributed a driver’s inattention, within the three seconds preceding a crash, as the cause of 80 percent of automobile accidents.
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