Estimated Auto Fatalities Up 8.1% in 2015 for the 1st 6 Months
November, 2015
Dear Care for Crash Victims Community Members:
NHTSA early estimates for first half of 2015 show an 8.1% increase over last year – more than 1,000 additional deaths over 2014’s first 6 months! See http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/812217.pdf
And corporate controlled Congress is adding safety loopholes in legislation that is about to be enacted that will predictably cause more preventable deaths.
This is worse than negligent homicide.
Even DOT Secretary Foxx notes, albeit in paragraph 8 – not paragraph 1, that safety is of concern. “Last but not least, I remain concerned about whether Congress will use this opportunity to raise the bar on safety or lower it. We have seen proposals put forward that limit NHTSA’s ability to recall dangerous rental cars. Both versions prevent states from using federal dollars to enforce motorcycle helmet laws, which saved more than 1,600 lives in 2013 alone. The proposals could also hide critical safety data about truck and buses companies from the public; limit our ability to perform safety inspections of motor coaches; and make it more difficult for us to enhance the safety of rail cars carrying crude oil.” See https://www.transportation.gov/fastlane/defining-success-congress-advances-long-term-transportation-bill
Imagine if President Obama and Secretary Foxx had the safety of the American people as their first concern! 100 Americans dying, 400 seriously injured, and losses valued by DOT at $2 Billion every day apparently is not enough to make safety their first priority in policy – not just their words.
