US Car Crash Fatality Rate Falls Below Suicide Rate

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

Back in 2010, NHTSA reported that traffic deaths had hit a record low, and now Americans are more likely to die at their own hands by means of suicide than in a fatal car crash.

All new modern safety features have attributed to a drop rate in vehicle fatalities in the recent years, along with high-tech sensors that can practically warn a driver of any possible collision. Even though distracted driving is a main focus in recent years, traffic-related deaths overall have been on the decline – and dropping faster than the suicide rate in America.

In 2009 for example, 33,808 traffic-related deaths occurred in America while roughly 37,000 people took their own lives in the US. When comparing to 2000, traffic deaths have declined an impressive 25 percent while the suicide rate has only declined 15 percent.

Then there’s also the fact that many suicides are not reported as such, so the suicide rate could be much higher. Auto fatalities however are quite clear cut when it comes to the numbers.

[Source: The Car Connection]

Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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  • Angela Angela on Sep 25, 2012

    That is crazy. What does this say about people today that they kill themselves more than dying in car accidents.

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