Insurance Stats Create a Compelling Argument in Favor of Auto Insurance
The proof is in the numbers and that makes it hard to ignore this grim reality: Traffic accidents are more than a major inconvenience. They’re deadly and although the death rate among people involved in traffic accidents is at a historic low, the numbers are still startling.
2007 Statistics
According to data collected and analyzed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 6,027,000 traffic accidents were reported to police during the year 2007. As a result of those 6 million+ traffic accidents 41,059 people were killed and 2,491,000 people were injured. Fortunately, the majority of traffic accidents, 4,275,000 to be exact, involved only property damage.
Although the numbers are down and most of the damage involved property, the death rate still is unnerving—112 people each day, or one person every 13 loses his or her life because of a traffic accident.
Safe driving campaigns are effective
The statistics are unfortunate and they’re true. But they’re on the decline because of campaigns designed to encourage safer driving including those directed at seat belt use and reducing the number of people that drive while impaired.
Interestingly, early Saturday and Sunday mornings between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. are the times of day when the largest number of fatal car accidents take place. Staying off the road during this time-frame is a sensible way to avoid becoming a statistic, and to the extent that’s possible, it’s a really good idea.
It’s also a good idea to avoid speeding, as speed is a prevalent contributing factor in traffic accidents. Speed-related accidents accounted for 13,040 deaths during 2007. Alcohol-impaired fatalities were an alarming 12,998. Speed and alcohol, a deadly combination, was present in 40% of the fatal crashes during 2007.
Takes steps to protect yourself, your family, your property
No doubt you should never drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs. No doubt you should never speed. And no doubt you should wear your seatbelts every time you’re in a vehicle. These are all ways you can better protect yourself against becoming a statistic this year or any year.
But still, traffic accidents do happen. And that’s why you need the added protection you can only get from auto insurance.