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AAA Report Shows Traffic Crashes Cost American Motorists Billions
Cheyenne, Wyoming- March 5 – The societal cost of crashes is a staggering $164.2 billion annually, nearly two and a half times greater than the $67.6 billion price tag for congestion, according to a new report released today by AAA.
The report, “Crashes vs. Congestion: What’s the Cost to Society?,” demonstrates that traffic safety issues warrant increased attention from the public and policymakers, particularly as Congress prepares to reauthorize federal transportation programs in 2009.
“Most Americans will be surprised to learn that motor vehicle crashes cost more than the congestion they face on their daily commute to work,” said AAA Spokes person Denice Harris. “Great work has been done by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) to quantify the costs of congestion, raise awareness for the problem and offer solutions. We feel safety deserves a similar focus.”
According to the study conducted by Cambridge Systematics, the $164.2 billion cost for crashes equates to an annual per person cost of $1,051, compared to $430 per person annually for congestion. These safety costs include medical, emergency and police services, property damage, lost productivity, and quality of life, among other things.
The report calculates the costs of crashes for the same metropolitan areas covered by the annual Urban Mobility Report conducted by TTI. In every metropolitan area studied, from very large to small, the results showed crash costs exceeded congestion. For very large urban areas (more than 3 million), crash costs are nearly double those of congestion. Those costs rise to more than seven times congestion costs in small urban areas (less than 500,000) where congestion is less of a challenge.
“195 people died on Wyoming roadways in 2006,” said Harris. “Yet, the annual tally of motor vehicle-related fatalities barely registers as a blip in most Wyoming residents’ minds. It’s time for motor vehicle crashes to be viewed as the public health threat they are. If there were two jumbo jets crashing every week, the government would ground all planes until we fixed the problem. Yet, we’ve come to accept this sort of death toll with car crashes.”
According to the report, many of the fatalities in Wyoming occur due to lane departures, speeding and alcohol. Wyoming fatalities exceed the National average and the percentage of involvement in each of those categories. For additional information and to download a full copy of the report, visit AAA.com/news or see attached.
The report includes several recommendations to improve safety. “One way Wyoming residents can deter this epidemic,” says Harris, “is by enacting a Primary Seat Belt law.” Harris indicates according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with a primary law, Wyoming will save approximately 16 lives, 105 serious nonfatal injuries, and $31.1 million in costs each year. (Based on a 14.6 percentage point increase from the 2006 safety belt use rate.)
As Wyoming’s premier motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides over 30,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. |
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