WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Deaths due to motor accident have increased 9 percent during the first six months of 2016 compared to the same period last year, according to preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council. Traffic deaths have increase 18 percent from 2014.
About 19,100 people have been killed on U.S. roads since January through June, while around 2.2 million have been seriously injured. The council estimates the total estimated cost of these deaths and injuries to be about $205 billion.
At the current rate, the council anticipates annual deaths to exceed 40,000 this year for the first time in nine years. Over 38,000 people were killed last year.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX