Traffic fatality rates falling--except for motorcycles

There’s some pretty good news in the latest traffic death numbers recently issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: The number of people who died on the nation’s roads fell last year to the lowest highway fatality rate ever recorded--1.42 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. By comparison, the fatality rate was 1.69 in 1996, 2.51 in 1986 and 3.25 in 1976.

The number of deaths recorded in 2006 was 42,642. That was 868 fewer and 2 percent below 2005 numbers, representing the largest decline in total deaths in 15 years.  Injuries were also down, dropping by 6.2 percent for passenger cars and by 15 percent for large trucks.

But here’s the bad news: Counter to the overall positive trend, motorcycle deaths rose 5.1 percent in 2006, the ninth consecutive annual increase. Motorcycle rider fatalities now account for 11 percent of total  traffic-related fatalities and in 2006 exceeded  the number of pedestrian fatalities for the first time since NTHSA began collecting fatal motor crash data in 1975.

Also troubling: Alcohol-related fatalities rose slightly over 2005.

Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters attributed the decline in overall fatalities to tough safety requirements and new technologies that have helped make vehicles safer and roads less deadly. However, she noted, “proper training, clothing, gear and above all, helmet use are essential” to reversing the deadly trend for motorcycle riders.

As Jeff Bartlett writes on the Consumer Reports Car Blog, "Certain bike types may invite dangerous behavior, but ultimately it is the driver that takes the risks.  Whatever is your vehicle of choice, obey the law and drive responsibly for all our sakes."