Lower unemployment means higher death rate on the road
Georgia residents may be interested to learn about a potential higher risk of dying while driving thanks to the latest economic recovery. According to the IIHS, there were 30 deaths for every million registered vehicles from the 2014 model year. There were only 28 deaths for every million registered vehicles from the 2011 model year. The increase is partially attributable to the fact that people drive more during better economic times and that they may take more risks while on the road.
The IIHS study found that when the unemployment rate drops from 6 to 5 percent, there is a 2 percent increase in miles traveled. This also causes a 2 percent increase in the number of driver deaths. While the number of driver deaths each year had been declining since the 1970s, there was a 7 percent increase in 2015. It is also expected that the number would increase in 2016 as well.
It is projected that 34,400 people will be killed on the nation’s roadways in 2024 compared to 35,092 in 2015. The researchers also noted that advances in vehicle safety may cause this number to drop even further. If implemented, autonomous vehicle technology may have the potential to eliminate fatalities on the road entirely, but it may be several years before the technology is available on most cars.
Those who are involved in a car accident may wish to file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. This may be possible even if an injured victim was in the car that caused the accident, assuming that the driver was negligent in causing it. An attorney may use toxicology reports or a police report to show that negligence played a role in an accident and that an injured person is entitled to financial compensation.