VOLUME 57 ISSUE 19 MAY 12, 2020 P25
Motorcycle Fatalities Decline
For The Third Year
A
ccording to the Motor-
cycle Rider Foundation,
motorcycle fatalities declined
for the third straight year.
The National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA) released the "Early
Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traf-
fic Fatalities in 2019," where
the preliminary numbers
show that motorcycle fatali-
ties decreased 1% from 2018
to 2019. The early estimates
from the Fatality Analysis
Reporting System (FARS)
shows that 36,120 people
died on our nation's roadways
in 2019. Overall, this repre-
sents a 1.2% decrease from
2018, while Vehicle Miles
Traveled (VMT) increased by
0.9% during this time. Fatali-
ties decreased in most major
traffic safety categories: Driv-
ers (down 3%), Passengers
(down 4%), Motorcyclists (down
1%), Pedestrians (down 2%), and
Pedal-cyclists (down 3%). You
can download NHTSA's full Early
Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic
Fatalities in 2019.
"Safety is our top priority so
this report that traffic fatalities
appear to have decreased again
for the third year is great news,"
said U.S. Transportation Sec-
retary Elaine L. Chao. The U.S.
DOT and NHTSA remain com-
mitted to reducing motor vehicle
fatalities. In February 2020,
NHTSA released over $562 mil-
lion in grants for highway safety
programs that were appropri-
ated through the current High-
way Authorization, known as
the FAST ACT, to the Offices of
Highway Safety in all 50 states
and U.S. territories.
"We know that most of the
36,560 roadway fatalities in
2018 related to behavioral is-
sues such as speeding, alco-
hol and drug-impaired driving,
distraction, motorcycle safety
and seat belt usage. The grants
we're announcing today will
help our partners in state and
local law enforcement and other
transportation officials enforce
their highway laws and educate
the public so that our roads will
be safer for everyone," said
NHTSA Acting Administrator
James Owens. In the fiscal year
2020, NHTSA awarded $4.2
million in motorcycle safety
grants to 43 states and one
territory. You can see the full
breakdown of what your state
was awarded. CN
Motorcycle
fatalities decline
for the third
straight year.
