PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
As more Americans are getting behind the wheel, there has also been a sharp increase in the number of fatal accidents on the road. The National Safety Council (NSC) this week released a new report indicating that the number of fatalities due to crashes is up six percent in 2016 from the previous year. (Click here to read report.)
According to the National Safety Council, the nation lost 40,200 people in traffic crashes in 2016, the first time the annual fatality total has exceeded 40,000 since 2007. The annual total deaths in 2015 were 37,757, a seven percent increase from 2014. The National Safety Council includes both traffic and non-traffic deaths that occur within a year of an accident. Almost half of passenger vehicle occupants killed were not wearing seat belts. Research shows almost one in three fatalities involved drunk drivers or speeding. One in 10 fatalities involved distraction.
The Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center at Cooper University Health Care treat more than 3,000 trauma victims annually. In 2016, the Trauma Center treated 1,200 victims of incidents involving motor vehicles including car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, as well as collisions involving bicycles or pedestrians.
“As South Jersey’s Level I Adult Trauma Center and Level II Pediatric Trauma Center, we see way too many of victims of vehicle crashes come through our doors,” states John M. Porter, MD; medical director, Cooper Trauma Center. “We also see many pedestrians who are hit by distracted or impaired drivers. Individuals need to remember to stay alert and remove all distractions to ensure that they arrive at their destination safe and sound. And the most common cause of distracted driving is texting. Do not text and drive.”
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Wendy A. Marano
Public Relations Manager
marano-wendy@cooperhealth.edu
Office: 856.382.6463