Are Kansas City Roadways Really Getting Safer?

As I ride to and from work each day I cannot help but think how many more police officers and highway patrol officers I seem to notice these days. Holiday weekends make their presence most notable  with TV and radio commercials explicitly advertising their increased patrol on local roadways and interstate marquees displaying catchy slogans like, "Drunk Driving: Over the Limit. Under Arrest."

Undoubtedly, law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. have stepped up to increase their patrol efforts to help remove dangerous and reckless drivers from our roadways. As the disastrous consequences of drunk driving have made their way one way or another into the media's spotlight, police departments have set out to curb this issue. An increasing number of states have enacted harsher penalties and longer sentences for individuals who are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.    

The good news though, is that their efforts (and our money) have not gone to waste. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) National Center for Statistics and Analysis, the majority of states have experienced a noticeable decrease in the percentage of driving fatalities per year that are classified as "alcohol-related". Indeed, between the years 2007 and 2008, just seven of the 50 states (Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wyoming) saw an increase in the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities.  

This evidence seems to suggest that our nation's highways are becoming increasingly safer. Arguably, basic logic and reasoning would have the majority of us concluding that a decrease in the number of alcohol-related fatalities indicates a decreased number of reckless drivers on our roadways, and therefore a safer commute for the masses.

Unfortunately, such a conclusion would give drivers in more heavily populated states like California, Texas, and Florida, a false sense of security. A closer look at the numbers reveals that although these three states each saw a decrease in the total number of automobile accident fatalities between 2007 and 2008, they still top the list of statewide fatalities per year. California, for at least the second year in a row, tops the list with 3,434 fatalities in 2008, followed closely by Texas with 3,382 fatalities, and then Florida with 2,978 fatalities in 2008. Moreover, alcohol attributed to less than 40% of those fatality totals for all three states mentioned.  

What, then, is the underlying culprit? Who or what is to blame for so many fatalities on our nations roadways each year? A recent article by California car accident attorney Allen Flatt Ballidis & Leslie gives one possible suggestion. In the most congested areas, it seems that poorly planned and executed highway/interstate infrastructure may be to blame. According to experienced Newport Beach accident attorney James E. Balladis, "Replacing dangerous intersections and engineering more effective medians, guard rails, and rumble strips could save lives . . . unreported safety hazards may be to blame."  

As an experienced Kansas City personal injury attorney I know that dealing with injury after an automobile accident can be both stressful and frightening. If you have been injured in an accident, whether it was caused by another's reckless driving or faulty road conditions, an attorney may be able to help. For more information please call us toll free at 888-348-2616 and download a copy of our free resource guide 10 Essential Steps You Must Take to Protect Your Injury Claim.