Transportation Fatalities News

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recently released its annual “Top 10 Most Wanted List” of Transportation Improvements for 2014. New this year was the issue of passenger vessel safety. Between 2000 and 2010, several accidents involving passenger vessels occurred. The domestic passenger vessel industry is highly regulated. Safety regulations for small passenger vessels took effect starting in 1996 for new construction, with phased implementation for existing vessels to be completed no later than March 2006.

According to preliminary figures released today by the National Transportation Safety Board, total transportation fatalities in the United States increased by three percent in 2012 from 2011, but deaths in the marine sector declined over the same period. The data indicate that transportation fatalities in all modes totaled 35,531 in 2012, compared to 34,551 in 2011. Although marine, aviation and pipeline, deaths declined, highway and rail fatalities showed an increase. "We have a serious public health and safety epidemic on our highways," said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman.

Transportation fatalities in the United States last year increased 0.6 percent over the total for 2000, according to preliminary figures released today by the National Transportation Safety Board. For the year 2001, preliminary figures show that 44,461 persons died in highway, aviation, rail, marine, and pipeline accidents, up from 44,196 in 2000. Increases in fatalities were registered in aviation and rail while highway, marine, and pipeline fatalities declined. Aviation fatalities rose from 779 to 1,162 in 2001, with the increase largely attributable to the deaths resulting from the terrorist acts on September 11. Total airline fatalities, up from 92 the previous year, reached 531, with almost half that number occurring aboard the four aircraft hijacked on September 11.

Transportation fatalities in the United States decreased by one and a half percent in 2006 from 2005, according to preliminary figures contained in a report released by the National Transportation Safety Board. The data indicate that transportation fatalities in all modes totaled 45,026 in 2006, compared to 45,735 in 2005. While highway and rail fatalities declined and pipeline deaths remained virtually unchanged, marine and general aviation fatalities showed increases. Highway fatalities, which account for nearly 95% of all transportation deaths, decreased from 43,510 in 2005 to 42,642 in 2006, with a five percent increase in motorcycle fatalities from 4,576 in 2005 to 4,810 in 2006.

Washington, D.C. - Transportation fatalities in the United States decreased slightly in 2004, according to preliminary figures released today by the National Transportation Safety Board. Deaths from transportation accidents in the United States in 2004 totaled 44,870, down from the 45,158 fatalities in 2003. “Although it is always gratifying to see transportation fatalities decline,” NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker said, “the yearly toll, especially on our highways, continues to be unacceptable. Highway transportation, which accounts for the largest portion of fatalities, decreased from 42,884 in 2003 to 42,636 in 2004. The number of persons killed in all aviation accidents dropped from 710 in 2003 to 651 in 2004.