DHHS Internet Website - Public Health

Traffic Safety In General 
In the United States, motor vehicle traffic crashes were the leading cause of death in age group 8-34. They also lead to the greatest number of deaths among all causes of injuries. Because many of the crash victims died at very young age, when years of life lost are considered, motor vehicle traffic crashes ranked the third among 68 causes of death, only lower than cancers and heart diseases. The National Safety Council estimated that the average comprehensive cost for every death resulted from a motor vehicle traffic crash is $4,300,000, for incapacitating injuries is $216,800, and for non-incapacitating evident injuries is $55,300.

Alcohol
Impaired driving is one of the most serious traffic risks facing the Nation, killing thousands every year. Significant reductions in the number of alcohol-related traffic deaths occurred in the 1980s and early 1990s, but progress has since been slow. The impaired-driving problem is complex and requires the full range of countermeasures. Sustained high-visibility enforcement, use of traffic safety resource prosecutors and DWI courts, widespread adoption of screening and brief intervention, and enactment of primary seat belt laws have contributed to greater reductions in alcohol-related traffic fatalities.

Seat Belt and Occupant Protection
One of the most effective measures a person can take to prevent injury and death in a crash is to be appropriately restrained in rear- or forward-facing child safety seats, booster seats, or seat belts. NHTSA estimates that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used correctly, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent.

Speeding
Speeding is a significant threat to public safety and warrants priority attention. Travel at safe and reasonable speeds on highways promotes the nation's productivity. Most highways and motor vehicles are designed and built for safe operation at the speeds traveled by most motorists. Speeding on the nation's roadways is a contributing factor in as many as one third of all fatal crashes. In addition, many people are injured in speed-related crashes.

Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is any activity that could divert a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving. Research has shown that using a cell phone while driving, whether it’s hand-held or hands-free, delays a driver’s reactions as much as having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent. Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted.

Motorcycle Safety
In the United States, motorcycle fatalities represent approximately 11 percent of all highway fatalities each year, yet motorcycles represent approximately 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the United States. Many motorcycle crashes can be attributed to lack of basic riding skills, failure to appreciate the inherent operating characteristics and the limitations of the motorcycle, failure to use special precautions while riding, and failure to follow speed limits, etc. Motorcycle crash statistics show that helmets are about 29 percent effective in preventing crash fatalities.

Other
 Adverse Weather-Related Crashes in Nebraska 2006-2010