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The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAA) urged the Federal administration on May 2, 2017 to "focus on the infrastructure package on deteriorating roadways" as simple road improvements may not be enough to reduce fatalities. 

The latest Infrastructure Report Card from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) showed that we continue to neglect our nation's growing infrastructure needs. This year's report card gives America's roads a "D" and bridges a "C+". 

In Road to Growth - The Case for Investing in America's Transportation Infrastructure, published by the Business Roundtable in September 2015, it reported that "many people site our country's aging highway system as the biggest culprit in highway fatalities. Urban highway congestion costs the economy more than $120 billion each year, and nearly one in four bridges in the national highway system are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete." 

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) reported that 35,092 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2015 (latest available data). This was up 7.2 percent from 32,744 in 2014 and is the largest percentage increase in close to 50 years. The previous large increase was from 1965 to 1966 when the increase was 8.1 percent. Job growth and lower fuel prices, according to the NHTSA, led to increased driving which included leisure driving and teen driving. With more driving can come a higher fatality rate. In its 2015 report, the NHTSA said that vehicle miles traveled increased by 3.5 percent over 2014. This was the largest increase in nearly 25 years. 

Over a 20-year period 63,700 lives may be saved, and 353,560 serious injuries prevented, according to a new 2017 AAA report, if key roadway improvements are made. The report recommends six cost-effective roadway improvements with the greatest potential to reduce both the likelihood and consequences of crashes and account for 95 percent of anticipated crash reduction: 

1. Convert key intersections into roundabouts (nearly 30 percent)
2. Install roadside barriers and clear roadside objects (nearly 20 percent)
3. Add sidewalks and signalized pedestrian crossing on the majority of roads (nearly 20 percent)
4. Install median barriers on divided highways (14 percent)
5. Install shoulder and centerline rumble strips (nearly 9 percent)
6. Pave and widen shoulders (nearly 3 percent)

Roadway improvements are needed, and will help reduce fatalities and injuries. However, human factors contribute to a majority of crashes according to the NHTSA. Its research shows that half of passenger vehicle occupants who died in accidents were not wearing seat belts, and one in three fatalities involved drunk drivers or speeding. Distraction accounted for 1 in 10 fatalities.

"If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle crash, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to determine your rights. There are no costs or attorney fees unless we make a monetary recovery for you," said Randall Spivey, Naples Personal Injury Attorney.

Naples Personal Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney - the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by less than 2 percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 1,500 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.