Yahoo! News - Highway Deaths Fall Slightly in 2001

The data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also showed a surge in highway traffic as air travel plunged after the Sept. 11 hijack attacks. The effect of the increase on overall fatalities remained unclear.

The safety agency reported 6.3 million crashes, of which 37,299 involved at least one fatality. The total number of people killed on U.S. highways fell slightly to 41,730 in 2001 from 41,821 the previous year, while injuries declined by 200,000 to 3 million.

Drunk-driving deaths again made up about 40 percent of all fatalities.

Most of those killed in crashes were not buckled up, a fact that frustrates safety advocates.

When I was learning to drive, over 55,000 were killed each year in motor vehicle accidents, "more than all US soldiers killed in all the years in Vietnam," or some inane comparison like that.

Motorcycle fatalities increased for the fourth straight year and hit their highest level since 1990 at 3,067.

Oops! But I'd like to see how this compares to the increase in motorcycle sales and, tada, the number of riders. There's been a recent resurgence in motorcycle popularity, which started plunging in 1990--oh, such a coincidence, I'm sure.

"I think there is increased attention to protecting children in crashes that has helped lower the number of deaths," said Joan Claybrook, president of consumer group Public Citizen.

Christ, is this silly no-no still around?!?!? Why does anyone ask her a thing, let alone quote her? Why am I quoting her? I think I'll stop!