Insurers Trumpet Accident Data

The American Insurance Association (AIA) says new data confirms that auto and traffic safety efforts over the past forty years have significantly reduced the number of accident-related injuries and fatalities.

The AIA notes that the motor vehicle traffic fatality rate dropped from 5.19 deaths per-100 million vehicles miles traveled in 1968 to a record-low 1.27 deaths per-100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2008. Similarly the injury rate has dipped from169 injuries per-100 million vehicle miles traveled in 1988 to 80 injuries per-100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2008.

By assessing the deaths and injuries per mile, the numbers show that improved safety measures—long championed by the insurance industry— are the leading cause for the pronounced reduction, AIA says.

“The insurance industry has always been a strong advocate for safety measures when it comes to automobiles, roads and drivers,” David Snyder, AIA VP and associate general counsel, said in a statement. “We will keep pressing the case for increased safety measures, better vehicle designs, seatbelt use, anti-drunk driving measures, graduated licensing, motorcycle helmet use, and electronic enforcement laws so that these fatality and injury rates continue to decline.”