Many of us will remember a time when driving in a car seemed much more dangerous than it is today. After all, car seats for infants and children have only been mandatory since 1985 across the U.S. and its territories.
Many of us can recall a time when it was totally legal to ride in a car without a seat belt, ride in the back of a pickup truck unrestrained, operate a motorcycle without a helmet, and even drink alcohol and drive.
Car safety laws: A quick history
Compared to those memories, it would seem as though the United States has come a long way in trying to keep drivers safe on the road. We’ve enacted many safety laws for drivers, and mandated certain safety equipment on vehicles, such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, and other crash-protection advances like seatbelts.
- 1968: A Federal law required all vehicles (except buses) to be fitted with seat belts in all designated seating positions.
- 1971: The first anti-lock braking system appeared in a production car with the Chrysler Imperial.
- 1985: All states, including D.C. and Puerto Rico mandated the use of seat belts by all drivers and occupants.
- 1991: Las colisiones traseras son el tipo Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act is passed, mandating frontal airbags on both sides of the front seat of all new cars and light trucks (applied to model years 1998 and going forward).
- 1998: The United States established a federal standard blood alcohol concentration (“BAC”) level to define legal intoxication.
- 2018: Backup cameras became a required safety technology on all new cars.
Traffic deaths: U.S. compared to other countries
Though stricter laws were enacted, a global report from the World Health Organization reports that the United States leads the developed world in muertes por trafico. How can this be? Shockingly, our nation suffers 12.4 traffic-related deaths per 100,000 people annually, which is about 50% higher than similarly-developed nations in Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan.
Why does the U.S. experience more traffic deaths?
One reason the U.S. experiences higher rates of traffic deaths is the fact that Americans drive more miles per person. In fact, a recent study revealed that the average U.S. driver was behind the wheel or rode as a passenger at almost double the miles of the average French, German, or British resident.
Much of that has to do with:
- The sheer size of the United States
- The lack of accessible public transportation compared with other countries
- The culture and urban planning in other countries is more pedestrian-friendly, with necessary destinations (such as grocery stores and schools) easily reachable by walking or public transportation. This not the norm in most U.S. states.
The U.S. and lenient drunk driving laws
Other factors that contribute to a higher rate of traffic deaths are certain driving laws, and the way we enforce them. In particular, the United States is very lenient on drunk drivers when compared with other countries.
- For example, the majority of European countries have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.05%, which means drivers are allowed 0.05 grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which is roughly the equivalent of one beer OR one small glass of wine.
- Norway, Poland, and Sweden have even lower limits of .02.
- The Czech Republic and Hungary have a “zero tolerance” law—which means the maximum BAC limit is 0.00%.
- Around the world, the average alcohol limit is 0.06%, slightly higher than the European average.
- By comparison, the United States has one of the highest allowable blood alcohol concentration limits in the world at 0.08%.
Penalties for drunk driving around the world
The consequences of drunk driving are much stricter in other countries, which acts as a deterrent for drivers (and in some cases passengers!) from engaging in driving under the influence.
- In the U.K. and Ireland, you may be sentenced up to 6 months in jail if you are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.
- The average penalty in Japan for drunk driving includes fines upwards of $6,000, and every passenger in the car is liable if the driver is drunk and they agreed to ride with that driver.
- In Russia, just one drunk driving conviction results in a lifetime revocation of your driving license.
- In Saudia Arabia, drunk drivers are whipped in the public square.
- In El Salvador, a driving under the influence conviction can result in a death sentence.
Though the consequences of drunk driving in the United States vary, the penalties are not nearly as extreme as other countries. A first drunk driving conviction will generally result in the temporary restriction of one’s driver’s license, high fines, and a mandatory ignition interlock device. A drunk driver in the United States must be convicted multiple times before his or her license is permanently revoked or he or she faces a long jail sentence.
Speed in a factor in higher U.S. traffic deaths
Another factor that contributes to higher domestic traffic deaths is speed. Statistics show that higher speeds make crashes more likely and more deadly. Despite that knowledge, it seems United States lawmakers have prioritized the perception of individual freedoms over safety.
Since 1995, thirty states (including Virginia) have raised speed limits on highways up to 70 miles per hour, often with deadly results. The National Transportation Safety Board reportado that excessive speed is a deadly problem on U.S. highways and federal and state officials aren’t doing enough to address it.
Avoid becoming a statistic
There are many steps that you can take, no matter what the laws are and no matter where you drive, to help keep yourself and your passengers safer on the roadways.
The steps to being safe are common sense:
- Don’t exceed the posted speed limit.
- Don’t drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Use su cinturón de seguridad.
- Don’t get into a car with an intoxicated driver.
- Pay attention to your surroundings when driving.
- Drive reasonably and prudently.
If you follow these basic rules when driving, you can help decrease your risk of being involved in a deadly crash, although there is no guarantee that others will follow suit.
At Allen & Allen, we have experience helping clients injured in car or truck accidents through no fault of their own. If you or a loved one have been injured under these circumstances, call us for a free consultation at 1-866-388-1307.