U.S.: The World Leader in Car Crash Deaths

U.S. holds the second place when it comes to alcohol related car crash deaths

This month, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an alarming report about the safety on the american roads. U.S. has the biggest car crash death rate positioning itself on the first place with a rate of 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people.

Their study include 20 high-income countries from around the world such as Canada, New Zealand, France, Germany, Sweden, Australia and of course United States and even if we talk about the highest car crash deaths because of  alcohol use or because of the violation of the speed limit, U.S. is always in the top of the statistics.

For example, when looking at deaths involving alcohol use, U.S. holds the second place with a rate of 31% deaths (10,000 crash deaths in 2013) being preceded by Canada (34%) and followed by New Zealand with the same rate of 31% deaths. Speeding also contributes to car crash deaths and this time U.S. takes the 8th place on the statistic with a rate of 29% deaths (9,500 crash deaths in 2013) compared with the first place which is Finland with a rate of 42% deaths involving speeding.

Sure, between 2000 and 2013 the car crash deaths rate was reduced by 31% but it’s the lowest reduction compared with Spain the country which registered a 75% decrease of the deaths rate. Just to see the benefits of prevention, only in 2013 the seat belt saved over 12,000 lives even though U.S is below the average at the front seat belt use with a rate of 87%.

In their report the CDC included a “What can be done” type of list for The Federal government, drivers and passengers, states and even for the health care providers. This list numbers a few pieces of advice like evaluating and encouraging the use of proven programs and policies for The Federal government, using the seat belt for drivers and passengers in every seat, obeying the speed limits, avoiding driving if drivers consumed alcohol, don’t drive and use distractions like the cell phone and for the health care drivers to engage into discussions with patients about the dangers of impaired driving.

What can be more frustrating and sad than the fact that we are losing lives just because people are disobeying simple traffic rules, as the U.S. National Safety Council (NSC) is saying: “Despite our vehicles being safer than ever before, we still lose 100 people every day in car crashes, and we are on the wrong side of the trend.”

So if you don’t want to be part of a car crash deaths statistic please be responsible and simply follow the traffic rules. In this way you can save your life and the lives of other road users.