Campaign aims to cut out traffic fatalities

Drivers in South Carolina often worry about the dangers that they could face when they get behind the wheel. A new project, called the Road to Zero Coalition, has been formed in order to make driving a safer proposition by achieving a dramatic reduction in traffic fatalities. Over 100 people die across the United States on the roadways every day, and car and truck accident deaths are preventable.

The transportation safety coalition includes 675 members, including trucking companies, associations, suppliers and others. It emphasizes that leadership, investment and technology can work together to improve roadway safety and prevent truck accidents. In a report released in April 2018, the grop laid out a roadmap toward safer roadways by 2050, set as the target goal to achieve zero traffic fatalities.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that deaths due to motor vehicle accidents had declined for several years. However, in 2016, the number of fatalities due to crashes grew 5.6 percent, reaching 37,461 that year. These are the most recent statistics currently available. One major source of vehicular deaths has been truck accidents. The NHTSA statistics show that 4,137 people were killed by truck crashes in 2016, a 5.4 percent increase above 2015.

The report focuses in on traffic deaths overall but notes specific initiatives to reduce fatalities due to truck accidents. These include intensifying successful actions like encouraging seat belt usage and enhancing protective technologies in newer vehicles. Expanded access to advanced trauma centers can also improve emergency treatment and save lives.

Truck accidents can cause fatalities or serious, lifelong injuries and disabilities that are costly and life-changing. People who have been injured in a truck accident through no fault of their own might benefit from consulting with a personal injury attorney. A lawyer might help accident victims to pursue compensation for their damages, including medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.