出行的代价还不够高吗？

最近发生了多起因车撞人引发的审判，审判焦点触动公众敏感的神经。但无人问津：为何如此多车撞人？最近在农村问题上颇有造诣的行动性学者刘老石也不幸死于车祸。中国2009年交通死亡人数是67000，日本是5772，美国是33308. 请注意2009年底美军海湾战争阵亡人数大约5000人。简单从死亡人数来看， 这相当于中国一年要打十三次海湾战争，日本打一次，美国打六次。 

下边是收集到的材料。感兴趣的朋友可以把日本，美国和中国三个国家的机动车保有量再放在一起，私车和公交车数量放在一起，就可以看出差别在哪里了。 

09年全国道路交通事故238351起 致67759人死2010年1月9日 15:14

来源:中国新闻网  选稿:吴月霞 

  东方网1月9日消息：公安部交通管理局今日发布的2009年全国道路交通事故情况显示，2009年，全国共发生道路交通事故238351起，造成67759人死亡、275125人受伤，直接财产损失9.1亿元，与去年同期相比，分别下降10.1%、7.8%、9.8%和10.7%。其中，发生一次死亡10人以上特大道路交通事故24起，同比减少5起。全国万车死亡率为3.6，同比减少0.7。 

  分析2009年全国道路交通事故情况，主要有以下特点：一是超速行驶、酒后驾驶、疲劳驾驶等严重交通违法行为导致的死亡人数降幅明显，同比分别下降10.1%、13%和15.2%。8月15日开展严厉整治酒后驾驶违法行为专项行动以来，全国因酒后驾驶肇事导致人数同比下降39.6%。 

  二是国省道发生事故导致的死亡人数同比下降9.8%，高速公路平均百公里发生事故造成的死亡人数下降10%。 

  三是恶劣天气导致的事故死亡人数同比增加，特别是下半年全国雨、雪、雾等恶劣天气条件下发生道路交通事故导致的死亡人数同比上升13.3%。从全国各片区情况看，西北片区恶劣天气发生事故导致的死亡人数同比增幅最大，上升22.9%，东北、华东和华北片区分别增加8.9%、8.2%和3.1%。 

  四是摩托车肇事导致死亡人数波动上升。自3月份以来，摩托车肇事导致的死亡人数呈逐月波动上升，无证驾驶、未按规定让行、超速行驶是摩托车肇事的主要原因，导致的死亡人数分别占摩托车肇事死亡人数的25.1%、11.7%和8.1%。 

  五是营运车辆肇事导致一次死亡10人以上特大道路交通事故比例上升。共19起，占同类事故总量的79.2%，同比增加3.3个百分点。营运车辆肇事导致一次死亡10人以上特大道路交通事故中，8起为驾驶人超速行驶导致，占42.1%；14起发生在国省道，占73.7%，同比增长7.7个百分点；8起事故中肇事客运车辆的营运距离小于400公里，占42.1%，同比增加3.2个百分点。营运车辆肇事比例居高不下，主要是个别运输企业对从业驾驶人员录用把关不严；少数运输企业违法挂靠经营，给明显不符合国家相关标准的营运车辆安全发放二级维护合格证；部分运输企业不履行对驾驶人的安全教育和管理职责；一些地方运输管理机构不对隐患整改不力的企业追究相关责任。

By MyPhillyBlogger on September 9th, 2010

For the first time in almost 60 years, fewer people died in traffic accidents on U.S. roadways last year than in any year since 1950, according to new statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The death toll for 2009 was 33,308 people, which was a 9.7% decline from 2008 when 37,423 people died on U.S. roads, according to the NHTSA figures. The 2009 death toll was the lowest in our nation since 1950, when 33,186 people died.

The number of victims injured in motor vehicle crashes was also down in 2009. Some 2.22 million people were hurt in vehicle crashes in 2009, compared to 2.35 million injured in 2008, according to the government figures.

Image credit: © iStockphoto.com/inhauscreative

Obviously, these are positive trends. There are several likely contributing factors, including safer vehicles being built and driven today with airbags, traction control and roll-over prevention systems, higher rates of seatbelt use, mandatory seatbelt laws and improved public education campaigns against drunk driving.

It’s also probably a result of new traffic laws against texting or using handheld cell phones while driving in many cities and states, as well as improvements in roads, traffic signals and highways. It’s also a result of fewer total miles being driven by motorists across the nation due to the economy, according to the experts.

But even with all of that, the carnage on our roads continues and more needs to be done.

In an Associated Press story today on the latest statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood described the lower death toll figures as “a landmark achievement for public health and safety,” but added that the numbers are still too high.

“While we’ve come a long way,” LaHood told the AP,  but “we have a long distance yet to travel.”

Amen to that.

In the Delaware Valley, here are the NHTSA death toll figures for the Tri-State area:

*Pennsylvania – 1,256 fatalities in 2009, which is a 14% reduction from 2008 when 1,468 people died on roads here. Of those deaths, 34% were alcohol-related in 2008, compared to 32% in 2009.

*New Jersey – 583 traffic deaths in 2009, which is down 1.2% from 590 deaths in 2008. Of those deaths, 26% were alcohol-related in 2008, compared to 25% in 2009.

*Delaware – 116 fatalities in 2009, which is down 4.1% from 121 deaths in 2008. Of those deaths, 36% were alcohol-related in 2008, compared to 38% last year.

Across the nation, the number of deaths in alcohol-related crashes stood at 10,839 in 2009, which was a 7.4% reduction from the 11,711 alcohol-related traffic accident deaths in 2008.

These lower death tolls are a good starting point, and we hope these trends continue, but even at 33,308 traffic deaths in the U.S. in 2009, that’s still a lot of victims.

According to the NHTSA, “motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 3 and 34.”

That’s a very sobering statistic, and one that we must continue to reduce.

Many of those deaths are inexcusable, the result of drunk drivers, inattentive drivers or some other cruel twists of fate on the nation’s roads.

Yes, things are getting better but let’s not lose sight of the fact that 33,308 people died in traffic accidents last year, causing grief and devastation to their families and friends.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a vehicle accident, give MyPhillyLawyer a call and find out about your rights and options.

We are here if you need us.

TOKYO, March 9 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The number of people who died within 30 days after being involved in traffic accidents last year dropped 4.2 percent from a year before to 5,772, the lowest since the statistics were first compiled in 1993, the National Police Agency said Tuesday.

Among the victims, 51.2 percent were aged 65 or older, according to the NPA.

The number of people who died within 24 hours fell 4.7 percent from a year earlier to 4,914, or 85.1 percent of the dead within 30 days, dipping below 5,000 for the first time since 1952, the NPA said.

The rate of traffic deaths within 30 days is 4.52 per 100,000 in Japan, which is higher than Britain but lower than the United States, Germany and France, according to the agency.