Everyday car accidents happen throughout the state of Pennsylvania. They are caused by a variety of things and have varying outcomes. In the worst cases they are fatal.

While it may seem like every one turns around there is news of someone dying in a car accident, a recent report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association, compiling statistics through 2010, actually indicates that fatal car accidents have been on the decline. In fact, the current number of deaths due to car crashes is at the same level in was in the 1950s when there were many fewer automobiles on the road.

The decline is likely do to actions on many fronts, most notably, safety improvements made to the vehicles by manufacturers.

Despite the drop, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2010, 32,885 individuals died after being involved in a traffic accident of some sort. Clearly there is some room for improvement. The improvement can be found in the behavior of those behind the wheel of the vehicles.

In its report, Survey of the States: Speeding and Aggressive Driving, the GHSA identifies two areas in which states can work to improve the behavior of drivers. The first is better enforcement of posted speed limits by authorities. The second is the adoption as well as enforcement of laws banning driving that is aggressive in manner. Whether any states will take these recommendations to heart and if so, if any of them make a difference, remains to be seen.

Source: The Car Connection, "Speeding, Aggressive Driving Still Cause 1/3 Of Fatal Accidents," Richard Read, March 9, 2012