A statistical projection of traffc fatalities for 2017 shows that an estimated 37,150 people died in motor vehicle traffc crashes. This represents a slight decrease of about 0.8 percent as compared to the 37,461 fatalities that were reported to have occurred in 2016, as shown in Table 1. If these projections are realized, 2017 represents the frst decline in fatalities since the back-toback signifcant increases that occurred in 2015 and 2016 (+8.4 and +5.6%, respectively). Preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) shows that vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in 2017 increased by about 39.3 billion miles, or about a 1.2-percent increase. Also shown in Table 1 are the fatality rates per 100 million VMT, by quarter. The fatality rate for 2017 was 1.17 fatalities per 100 million VMT, down from 1.18 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2016. The fourth quarter of 2017 represents the third consecutive quarter with year-to year decreases in fatalities and the fourth consecutive quarter of year-to-year decreases in the fatality rate. Fatalities are projected to have decreased by 2.5 percent during the fourth quarter of 2017. Analysis to generate gross estimates of changes reveals slight decreases in driver, pedestrian, and motorcyclist deaths for the Nation in 2017 as compared to 2016. Fatalities in crashes involving at least one large truck are projected to increase by 10 percent. Also, 6 out of 10 NHTSA Regions are estimated to have decreases in fatalities in 2017 as compared to 2016. The fatality counts for 2016 and 2017 and the ensuing percentage change from 2016 to 2017 will be further revised as the fnal fle for 2016 and the annual reporting fle for 2017 are available later this year. These estimates may be further refned when the projections for the frst quarter of 2018 are released in late spring of 2018. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting