Highway Traffic Safety

Newly released estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)…5/17/22…show traffic fatalities reached a 16-year high in 2021 of 42,915. Additionally, the traffic fatalities in the following categories showed relatively large increases in 2021, as compared to 2020.

* Fatalities in multi-vehicle crashes up 16%.

* Fatalities on urban roads up 16%.

* Fatalities among drivers 65 and older up 14%.

* Fatalities in crashes involoving at least one large truck up 13%.

* Daytime fatalities up 11%.

* Motorcyclist fatalities up 9%.

* Bicyclist fatalities up 5%.

* Fatalities in speeding-related crashes up 5%.

* Fatalities in police-reported alcohol-involvement up 5%.

“We face a crisis on America’s roadways that we must address together”, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

* Statistics are very deceiving. 42,915 fatalities is a very small % of a population of 330,000,000, and does not worry you: until a member of your family is one of them!

* Systems and rules that address the above situations are in place, but are being ignored and/or abused. There is an indifferent attitude toward traffic safety in the U.S.!

* Other countries are using technology and enforcement to address their problems (i.e., strict punishment for ignoring or abusing rules, and technology to prevent driver’s errors in judgement).

   + Why are drunks allowed to leave a bar, restaurant, or party and operate a vehicle?

   + Why are distracted drivers able to enter a roadway at an exit?

   +Why are Speed Limit signs ignored?

   +Why are teenagers with little or no experience allowed to drive any car; let alone one filled with other teenagers?

NO COMMON SENSE!

ANALYZE THE EXAMPLE

* What supports and barriers are in play?

* What were the dynamics?

* Who, or what, won the Tug-Of-War?

* Discuss the outcome with your family and friends.

* Use Post #4 as a reference for the dynamics and the relationships between supports and barriers.