Agency Plans To Eliminate Traffic Deaths Within 30 Years

If the U.S. Department of Transportation gets its wish, drivers in Connecticut and throughout the country won’t have to worry about traffic fatalities in the future. On Oct. 5, DOT officials announced that they want to completely eliminate all traffic fatalities within the next three decades. According to experts, the rise of autonomous vehicles could make this goal possible. Officials say that human error is a factor in more than 90 percent of motor vehicle accidents, and fully autonomous vehicles could address this issue.

In the meantime, the agency plans to promote seat belt use and educate people about drunk and distracted driving. They will also promote the use of rumble strips on roads and highways. These are ridges or bumps on roads that alert drivers who are crossing into another lane or onto the shoulder.

In 2015, traffic fatalities rose 7.2 percent from the previous year. The National Safety Council released preliminary figures that showed an even higher increase for the first half of 2016. The U.S. Transportation Secretary called on drivers, government agencies and safety organizations to commit themselves to safety on the road.

Victims of car accidents can face catastrophic injuries. In order to recover the costs of medical treatments, lost wages and pain and suffering, such victims may decide to file a civil lawsuit. In a case where a crash is caused by a negligent driver, the victim may be entitled to damages. A personal injury lawyer could help an injured victim by investigating the accident, negotiating with insurance companies and filing a lawsuit.