U.S. Car Accident Fatality Rate

This report revealed that the U.S. still has the worst rate of car accident fatalities compared to 19 other high-income nations.

Since the turn of this century, the rate of car accident fatalities has been on a decline in the United States. This trend can be attributed to the various safety initiatives including improved safety technology in vehicles and better awareness among drivers. Regardless of the reasons behind it, the downward trend is a welcome change. However, despite this change, motor vehicle accidents remain the leading cause of death among Americans in the age group of 1-55 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year, more than 32,000 deaths and another 32 million non-fatal injuries occur on the roads.

The CDC Report

The report revealed that the U.S. still has the worst rate of car accident fatalities compared to 19 other high-income nations. In fact, some of the countries studied showed a decline in car accident fatality rate that was much higher than that of the United States.

For the purpose of this study, the CDC reviewed car accident fatality data from 2000 and 2013. The data was compiled by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Health Organization. Based on this, the researchers determined the number and rate of car accident fatalities in the US and 19 OECD nations. Some of the key findings of the study were:

• The car accident fatality rate in the United States in 2013 was 10.3 per 100,000 people
• This represents a decline in the car accident fatalities by over 31% since 2000
• During the same time period, the other 19 OECD countries saw their car accident fatality rates drop by 56%
• Of the 20 countries included in the study, the rate of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people was the highest
• Fatality rates in Spain decreased by over 75 % during this time period
• Fatality rates in Denmark decreased by over 63% during this time period
• Only two countries had a lower rate of seatbelt use in the front seats of vehicles.
• Canada was the only country with a higher crash-related fatality rate with alcohol impairment as a factor

The CDC study shows that American roads may be getting safer, however, it also shows that other countries are getting safer at a much higher rate.