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WASHINGTON — The risk of dying in a traffic accident has dropped nearly 18 percent since 2005, including a drop of 7 percent in the first half of this year, according to preliminary statistics released Friday by the Transportation Department.
Measured by deaths per 100 million miles traveled, the death rate is down by 16.1 percent from 2005 to the first half of 2009.
Government officials and private experts cite a variety of factors: Highways are built or renovated with more consideration for safety; seat-belt use rose; and new vehicles have more air bags, anti-lock brakes and stability control.
