A preview of results from the 2006 Annual Assessment of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatalities and Injuries shows that the number of people killed in the United States in motor vehicle traffic crashes declined from 43,510 in 2005 to 42,642, the lowest level in five years. This decline is the largest in terms of both number and percentage since 1992. The preview data shows the decline in fatalities occurred for passenger car occupants, light-truck occupants, and nonmotorists (pedestrian and pedalcyclists). However, motorcycle rider fatalities continued their nine-year increase, reaching 4,810 in 2006. Motorcycle rider fatalities now account for 11 percent of total fatalities, exceeding the number of pedestrian fatalities for the first time since NHTSA began collecting fatal motor vehicle crash data in 1975. The drop in passenger car occupant fatalities was for the fourth year in a row, while the drop in light-truck occupant fatalities was the first since 1992. The preview also shows that the estimate of the number of people injured in motor vehicle traffic crashes declined for the seventh year in a row. In 2006 just under 2.6 million people were injured compared to nearly 2.7 million in 2005. The preview data shows that the number of people injured declined in all categories except motorcycle riders and that the decline was highest for large-truck occupants and passenger car occupants. In other important results, the preview shows that the Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Fatality Rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) dropped to 1.42. This is the lowest rate recorded by the Department of Transportation. The overall injury rate also declined. The 2006 rates are based on the latest (March 2007) Traffic Volume Trend estimates from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which showed that 2006 VMT increased by 0.2 percent over 2005 VMT – from 2.989 trillion to 2.996 trillion FHWA will update the VMT data later during the year with its official release of the Annual Highway Statistics for 2006. Also, fatalities in alcohol-related crashes in 2006 remained essentially the same as in 2005. Alcohol-related fatalities increased by 19 (0.1%) in crashes where the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .08 grams per deciliter (g/dL) or greater. The data indicates that declines in fatalities between 2005 and 2006 were essentially in crashes where there was no alcohol involvement. (Author/publisher)
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