US figures point to traffic accident causesRSS Feed

Mobile phones are causing traffic accidents, according to new figures from the US.

The number of distraction-related fatalities on US roads rose from ten per cent of total traffic accident deaths in 2005 to 16 per cent in 2009, new data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows.

At the same, the official figures reveal that the number of people killed on roads in the US has fallen to its lowest level in 60 years.

Some 33,808 people died in road traffic accidents last year, down from 43,510 in 2005.

Of these, 5,474 were linked to driver distraction from things like mobile phones.

"These numbers show that distracted driving remains an epidemic in America, and they are just the tip of the iceberg," said transportation secretary Ray LaHood.

"I'm convening our second Distracted Driving Summit in the hopes that we can continue to draw attention to the dangers of distracted driving and work together to save lives."

Scotland and Wales also recently reported their lowest-ever figures for road deaths.

Accident claims advice from Serious Law

Posted by T B Walters
 

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