Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council (NSC) based on the first six months of data from all 50 states tell an erratic story about the nation’s driving behaviors and the impact of COVID-19 on roadway safety. The U.S. experienced an estimated 20% jump in the death rate – an indicator of how safely drivers […]
Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Rose 23.5% in May in the U.S. Despite Quarantines
Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council based on May data from all 50 states indicate that for the third month in a row, road users in the U.S. were at a higher risk of dying from a motor vehicle crash. As reported in Injury Facts, the fatality rate per miles driven in May – […]
National Safety Council Projects Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Jump 36.6% in April Despite Quarantines
For second straight month, preliminary estimates show emptier but riskier roads. Preliminary estimates based on April data from all 50 states indicate that for the second straight month, Americans did not reap any safety benefit from having less roadway traffic. In fact, the roads became even more lethal as miles driven plummeted. Preliminary estimates from […]
NSC Warns Employers to Brace for Increased Employee Substance Misuse Due to Pandemic
At least 30 states are reporting spikes in fatal opioid overdoses and ongoing concern about mental illness or substance use disorders, all in connection with COVID-19. To help employers address these interconnected issues, the National Safety Council is calling on employers to prioritize employee stress, emotional and mental health both now and as they return […]
Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Jump 14% in March Despite Quarantines
Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council show that as Americans began driving less and covering fewer miles, the emptier roads became more lethal. Early data indicate a year-over-year 14% jump in fatality rates per miles driven in March, in spite of an 8% drop in the total number of roadway deaths compared to March […]
NTSB Says Tesla Crash Investigation Demonstrates Limitations of Today’s ADAS Systems
Board warns of insufficient federal oversight of partial driving automation systems. Issues nine safety recommendations for regulators, technology companies and auto industry. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) held a public board meeting Tuesday during which it determined the probable cause for the fatal March 23, 2018, crash of a Tesla Model X in Mountain […]
U.S. Department of Transportation Announces New Road Safety Initiatives
U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine L. Chao today spoke at the 99th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board (TRB) where she announced new transportation initiatives aimed at harnessing new and existing technologies to improve safety for the traveling public and first responders. Among the initiatives was an endorsement of a call by […]
AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and The National Safety Council Adopt Common Naming for Advanced Driver Assistance Technology
AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and the National Safety Council have come together to adopt standardized naming for advanced driver assistance technology in an effort to reduce confusion. To help educate consumers on the benefits, limitations and proper use of these technologies, the four organizations are calling on all safety organizations, automakers and journalists covering […]
National Safety Council Says No Level of Cannabis Use Acceptable for Workers in Safety Sensitive Positions
Recognizing that safety concerns are paramount as decriminalization of cannabis continues in states throughout the U.S., the National Safety Council (NSC) calls on employers to restrict cannabis use for those in safety sensitive positions – regardless of whether cannabis consumption is allowed by their state. In a policy position released October 21, NSC defines safety […]
National Safety Council Cautions on Road and Workplace Safety Concerns as Illinois Legalizes Recreational Marijuana
With Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signing of House Bill 1438, Illinois has become the 11th state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. In 2014, Illinois legalized marijuana for medical use. Thirty-four states and Washington, D.C., now have legalized medical or recreational marijuana, meaning a majority of Americans live in a state with some form of legal […]