Free Custom «Road Accidents» Essay Paper

A road accident occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, hits a pedestrian, animal, or geographical or architectural obstacle. This collision usually may result in injury, property damage, and even death. Road traffic fatalities are known to cause a lot of agony and sorrow to beloved ones by either losing of one or more of their relatives, friends, workmates, and even a famous figure in the society. World Health Organization warned that, “Road traffic fatalities are forecast to rise from the current level of nearly 1.3 million deaths annually to more than 1.9 million deaths per year by 2020” if no firm measures are taken to counter them (Media center). The aim of this paper will be discussing about what causes road accidents in the U.S. while detailing statistics and fatalities of since 1997 to date.

Why People Should Drive Carefully

The picture below shows a scene of accident. 

People should drive more carefully and abide to the traffic rules and regulations as stipulated by the traffic department. This move could reduce the number of deaths caused by road accidents by a great margin. Lack of carefulness has caused a great loss to the United States in terms of death to fellow citizens who ought to be working and uplift the county’s economy. This is clearly shown in the statistics below which indicates numerically how many American citizens die annually as a result of road accidents. 

Car Accident Statistics

Statistics indicates that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among people aged 5-34 in the U.S. It also shows that more than 2.3 million adult drivers and passengers were treated in emergency departments as the result of being injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2009. Statistics also shows that over 37,000 American people die each year due to road crashes and those injured or the disabled total about 2.35 million. It is estimated that children under the age of 15 who die annually as a result of road accidents are over 1,600. Furthermore, road crashes involving drivers aged between 16 – 20 kill nearly 8,000 people every year. Annually, the highest death toll by U.S. nationals travelling abroad is caused by road crashes. Of concern is that per year it costs the U.S. $239.6 billion in road crashes, these averages to $820 per person (ASIRT).

The table below shows the number of fatalities that occurred in U.S. in several consecutive years extracted from The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Year	Number of deaths recorded.
2010	32,885
2009	33,808
2008	37,261
2007	41,059

From the above table it is clearly noted that the fatalities due to road accidents have been on a downward trend in the recent years. However, more should be done to reduce the number further.

There is a high motor vehicle accidents everyday some of which are serious while others are felt as slight. It is estimated that over 37,000 deaths due to road accidents occur in the United States and millions suffer fatal injuries (ASIRT). Even though the states have put more efforts in curbing drunk driving, making sure that drivers together with passengers wear seat belts and strict measures by the different states that have been designed and constructed. They are aimed at offering greater safety. However, statistics indicates that there are over 37,000 citizens still perishing in road carnages.