2007 traffic fatalities lowest in 13 years.

The overall number of traffic fatalities in 2007 reached its lowest level since 1994, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The number of reported deaths among motorists in the United States in 2007 was 41,059, compared to 42,708 a year earlier, which translates into a 3.9-percent decline.

Passenger-car-occupant fatalities declined for the fifth straight year, while light-truck-occupant fatalities dropped for the second consecutive year. Motorcyclist fatalities, however, continued a 10-year increase, reaching 5,154 in 2007--the highest number since NHTSA started collecting fatality-crash data in 1975. Motorcyclists now account for 13 percent of the total fatalities.

Meanwhile, the number of people injured in motor-vehicle traffic crashes continued an eighth consecutive year reduction. An estimated 2.49 million people were injured in 2007, compared to 2.58 million in 2006. This new low marks the first time that injury totals have dropped below 2.5 million since NHTSA started collecting injury data in 1988. The number of people injured declined in all categories, except motorcyclists and pedestrians.

The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fell to a historic low of 1.37 in 2007. The overall injury rate also declined. The 2007 rates are based on the latest (May 2008) traffic-volume trend estimates from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Overall VMT decreased by 0.6 percent over 2006, from 3,014,116 to 2,996,232. [Note: VMT data will be updated when FHWA officially releases the 2007 Annual Highway Statistics.]

Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities (those involving a driver or motorcycle rider with a BAC of 0.08 percent or greater) declined by 3.7 percent in 2007.

Motorists and Nonmotorists Killed and Injured in Traffic Crashes

                                   Killed

Description            2006     2007   Change   % Change

Total *              42,708   41,059    -1649    -3.9%

Motorists

Passenger Vehicles   30,686   28,933   -1,753    -5.7%
Passenger Cars       17,925   16,520   -1,405    -7.8%
Light Trucks         12,761   12,413     -348    -2.7%
Large Trucks            805      802       -3    -0.4%
Motorcycles           4,837    5,154      317    -6.6%

Nonmotorists

Pedestrians           4,795    4,654     -141    -2.9%
Pedalcyclists           772      698      -74    -9.6%
Other/Unknown           185      152      -33     ---

                               Injured

Description               2006           2007

Total *              2,575,000      2,491,000

Motorists

Passenger Vehicles   2,331,000      2,221,000
Passenger Cars       1,475,000 **   1,379,000 **
Light Trucks           857,000        841,000
Large Trucks            23,000         23,000
Motorcycles             88,000 **     103,000 **

Nonmotorists

Pedestrians             61,000 **      70,000 **
Pedalcyclists           44,000         43,000
Other/Unknown            7,000         10,000

                             Injured

Description            Change      % Change

Total *               -84,000       -3.3%

Motorists

Passenger Vehicles   -110,000       -4.7%
Passenger Cars        -96,000 **    -6.5%
Light Trucks          -16,000       -1.9%
Large Trucks                0        0.0%
Motorcycles           +15,000 **     +17%

Nonmotorists

Pedestrians            +9,000 **    +15%
Pedalcyclists          -1,000      -2.3%
Other/Unknown           3,000       ---

Source: Fatalities--FARS 2006 [Final], 2007 Annual Report
File [ARF], Injured--NASS GES 2006, 2007 Annual Files

* Total includes occupants of buses and other/unknown occupants
not shown in table. ** Changes in numbers shown in bold are
statistically significant.