$500 Billion Dollar Update of Deaths Expected Before Election Day 2016


$500 Billion Dollar Update of Deaths Expected Before Election Day 2016

June,2015

Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:

As of July 1, 2015 there were 496 days left until Election Day 2016. 

At the 2014 NHTSA counted rate of 90 people dying of crash injuries per day, America is on track to suffer nearly 45,000 more crash deaths during this election season.  And about 1,000 will be children under the age of 15.  See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812160.pdf In reality the number will be closer to 50,000 more American crash deaths.  That is close to the number of American deaths in the Viet Nam War.  See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_military_casualties_of_war

Remember that NHTSA systematically under-counts crash deaths by about 10 per day.  See https://www.careforcrashvictims.com/blog-officerdies.php

Estimating the number of Americans that will suffer serious crash injuries before Election Day 2016 to be close to 200,000 Americans, we find that number exceeds the number wounded in the Viet Nam War.

Now how many editors, reporters, and moderators will ask the Presidential candidates their goals and plans to end this toll of crash deaths and injuries in America?  

What is the dollar toll expected?

Using DOT Policy Guidance on value of life of $9.2 million per statistical life: 50,000 deaths x $9.2 million = $500 billion.  VSL Guidance attached

That is just for the expected deaths does not include values for injuries and other losses.  For the calendar year 2010 total societal losses were estimated in a NHTSA Report to amount to $836 billion.  See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812013.pdf

Thus the losses before Election Day 2016 are expected to exceed $1 trillion.

Is that enough to merit the attention of Presidential candidates?
Lou

 

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