Driving Statistics

In 1960, there were 3,545,693 miles of highway in the U.S. By 2000, that number had risen to 3,936,229 statute miles according to information compiled by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2002.

• According to the DOT, the number of registered passenger cars in the U.S. has more than doubled from 61,671,390 in 1960, to 133,621,420 in 2000.
  
  
• The DOT has estimated that 12,144 lives were saved in 2001 by the use of safety belts.
  
  
• According to data compiled and analyzed by the DOT, 42,116 people died in traffic crashes in the United States in 2001.
  
  
• Of these people killed, 20,233 were occupants of passenger cars, and 3,181 were motorcyclists, and the rest were occupants of trucks and buses (11,485), pedestrians and pedacyclists (5,610), and other (677).
  
  
  • Single-vehicle crashes resulted in 17,747 fatalities
    
    
  • Two-vehicle crashes resulted in15,578 fatalities
    
    
  • More than two-vehicle crashes resulted in 3,061 fatalities
    
    
• In 2001, 41.4 percent of fatalities in highway crashes were alcohol-related.
  
  
• Of the 37,795 total fatal motor vehicle crashes in 2001:
  
  
  • 18.2% occurred on a Saturday.
    
    
  • 16.6% occurred between 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
    
    
  • 17,389 occurred where the posted speed limit was under 55 mph.
    
    
• The DOT estimates that the average total cost per mile of owning and operating an automobile (assuming 15,000 vehicle-miles per year in stop and go conditions) is now 50.2 cents, as compared with 14.4 in 1975.
  
  

Disclaimer

This publication and the information included in it are not intended to serve as a substitute for consultation with an attorney. Specific legal issues, concerns and conditions always require the advice of appropriate legal professionals.

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