Are Traffic Fatalities on the Rise?

Written 7/28/12
Author: Mitoosense
Copyright submission 001

Some areas of the US are reporting an unexplainable rise in highway traffic deaths on America's super highways. After decades of declining death rates the new figures are disconcerting. There were an estimated 7,630 deaths reported nationwide in motor vehicles in the first quarter of 2012 up 13.5% from 6720 deaths during the same quarter 2011. Some people point to changes in speed limits that might be the cause. Others point to warmer weather or road construction. It will take years of analysis to accurately determine the sudden rise.

One might suggest the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act might be the cause. You may not remember the federal legislation under that name. The spin in the news was cash for junk cars or C.A.R.S. Car Allowance Rebate System 2009. (118) (1)

Everyone remembers cash for junk cars in 2009. The idea sprung in Congress from the 750 billion dollar Stimulus and Recovery Act. The idea was to accomplish several needs at once using the same funds. Effectively killing several birds with one stone. First was to increase demand in the dismal auto production numbers putting people back to work. The second was cleaner environment demanding new cars have higher fuel economy and systematic junk removal of gas guzzling cars from our highways. Presumably safer now for all Americans. Cleaner air from less gas burned, energy independence from foreign oil and junk removal for a cleaner landscape. The Cash For Junk Cars was successful in nearly 700,000 auto junk removal units at a cost to the taxpayers of about 3 Billion dollars US. (241) (6)

In the heart land State of Indiana traffic fatalities are up 24 deaths from the same period a year ago. The Indianapolis Police Dept. aided by the Indiana State Troopers are cracking down on speeders in Indianapolis. Indianapolis is notorious for its lead footed drivers. Home to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park and Nascar's Indianapolis Brickyard 400.

Indianapolis is a good city to sample changes in trends. Indianapolis with a large metropolitan area in a very rural surround. Indianapolis is also neutral in climate, not considered a Northern city or deep South. The citizen of Indianapolis are a good demographic in a ethnically diverse population. It should be interesting to see if the traffic fatality rates can be lowered from better speed controls. Indianapolis is also home to a large automobile manufacturing centers building the new high mileage vehicles. The big three GM, Ford, Chrysler and Navistar all employ thousands of Hoosiers in Indianapolis.

We think the government Cash for Junk Cars may have a negative effect in fatal crashes nationwide. The older cars may have consumed more fuel, pumping out dirty emissions but, the heavier autos may prove to be safer on the highway. The older junk removal units cannot be brought back either. Once the customer traded in for the newer model the old car was scrapped. (418) (19)

Once the old junk removal units are scrapped Indianapolis foundries will melt down the waste and recycle into new products including automobiles. The government sponsored Cash for Junk Cars was implemented through Congressional authority to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration or N.H.T.S.A. the very same authority responsible for tabulations of traffic fatalities on our highways. Certainly safety would be their highest priority. The Cash for Junk Cars as well as junk removal of units from the environment may be denying them of their primary goal pushing unsafe cars onto the public. (500) (25)