Motor vehicle accidents claimed 227 fewer lives in 2017 compared to the earlier year, which equates to a 0.5% decline to 40,100, the National Safety Council (NSC) has found. However, it would be a 6% increase from 2015.
by Staff
February 16, 2018
Photo via PxHere.
2 min to read
Photo via PxHere.
Motor vehicle accidents claimed 227 fewer lives in 2017 compared to the earlier year, which equates to a 0.5% decline to 40,100, the National Safety Council (NSC) has found.
The small decline does not necessarily represent progress, but rather a plateau in 2017 along with the steepest two-year increase in over 50 years, according to the council. The 2017 assessment is 6% higher than the number of deaths in 2015. If the estimate holds, it will be the second consecutive year that motor vehicle deaths topped 40,000.
Ad Loading...
Injuries and costs for 2017 were also about 1% lower than in 2016 — with approximately 4.57 million people seriously injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2017 and costs to society totaling $413.8 billion.
For nearly 100 years, the NSC has tracked fatality trends and issued estimates. One factor known to impact motor vehicle fatality trends is an improved economy, which may be responsible in part for a 1% increase in miles driven from 2016-2017.
All estimates made by the NSC are subject to slight increases and decreases as the data mature. The organization collects fatality data every month from all 50 states and the District of Columbia and uses data from the National Center for Health Statistics, so that deaths occurring within one year of the crash and on both public and private roadways — such as parking lots and driveways — are included in the estimates.
Distracted driving remains one of the most persistent risks in fleet operations. New approaches focus on removing mobile device use entirely while adding real-time safety support.
As distraction risks evolve, fleets are turning to smarter, more connected technologies to better understand what’s happening behind the wheel. Part 2 explores how these tools are helping identify risky behaviors and improve visibility across operations.
Distracted driving is often measured by what we can see—phones in hand, eyes off the road. But what about the distractions we can’t? A recent incident raises a bigger question about awareness, attention, and why subtle risks so often go unnoticed.
Fleets have more driver data than ever, so why isn't behavior changing? Training requires more than reports and coaching — it requires real-world practice.
A two-part conversation with Stefan Heck on how AI is transforming the fight against distracted driving. As fleets adopt smarter tools, the focus shifts from reacting to preventing risk. In Part 1, we look at where AI is making an impact for fleets today.
An 11% drop in pedestrian fatalities in early 2025 signals progress in U.S. road safety, but elevated death rates and ongoing risks underscore the need for continued action from fleets and policymakers.
