Earlier this year, the Baltimore Sun published an article lauding the fact that Maryland traffic accidents hit a 66-year low in 2014, with a total of 442 deaths. According to the article, this figure is about half of the highest number of traffic fatalities in one year, which was 772 recorded back in 1968.
The article points out a number of interesting trends. For example, the following types of accidents are less common than they were several years ago: drunk driving, speeding, and aggressive driving.
With that said, the report indicates that drunk driving is still responsible for one-third of all fatal Maryland car accidents. Other types of accidents are becoming more common, including:
- Accidents involving older drivers,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Distracted driving, and
- Accidents where the victim was not wearing a seat belt.
The Causes of the Decrease in Fatal Maryland Traffic Accidents
According to the Baltimore Sun article, the causes for the decrease in fatal accidents are several. First, police agencies across the state have stepped up enforcement of certain types of negligent driving, such as drunk driving and speeding.
Second, state and federal initiatives have successfully targeted dangerous driving techniques and educated drivers as to safer driving habits. For example, the limit on legal blood-alcohol content used to be .15, but that figure was lowered to .08 back in 1981. Similarly, around the same time, the legal drinking age increased from 18 to 21.
Another contributing cause is the availability of medevac helicopters at Baltimore Shock Trauma. This has allowed emergency responders to transform what would have been a fatal accident into one where the victim was able to recover from their injuries by getting them to the hospital more quickly.
Continued Efforts to Decrease Maryland’s Traffic Fatality Rate
Although the 66-year low in traffic fatalities is great news, there is always more that can be done to improve highway safety in Maryland. Currently, the focus is on educating drivers about the dangers of cell-phone use while driving and other causes of distracted driving. Continued efforts are being made to get more and more Marylanders to use their seat belts, which have been proven to increase the chances of survival in serious car accidents. Finally, focusing on bicycle safety and driver education surrounding bicycles and motorcyclists will be a main focus in the future.
Have You Been Injured in a Serious Maryland Car Accident?
Despite the decreasing figures, serious and fatal car accidents still occur daily across the State. If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland traffic accident of any kind, you may be entitled to monetary compensation based on the other driver’s negligence. To learn more about Maryland car accident cases, and to speak to a dedicated Maryland personal injury attorney about an accident you were involved in, call the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers at 410-654-3600. The zealous advocates at Lebowitz & Mzhen have the in-depth knowledge and experience you need to feel comfortable putting your case in their hands.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Appellate Court Considers the Cap on Judgments Against Municipalities, Maryland Accident Law Blog, January 16, 2015.
Substantial Lawsuit Brought Against Kaiser After Allegedly Botched Delivery, Maryland Accident Law Blog, April 22, 2015.