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Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Motorists between the ages of 16 and 19 are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident than any other demographic. In 2013, over 2,000 teen motorists were killed and almost 250,000 were injured in traffic accidents (CDC).

Alcohol-impaired motorists put passengers and other drivers at a significant risk for severe injury and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 30 people are killed each day in the United States as a direct result of an alcohol-impaired driver. Costs associated with DUI and DWI vehicle accidents also exceed $59 billion in expenses each year (CDC).

Every year, school zones and bus stops pose a significant safety threat for school children. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motor vehicles kill 500 students between the ages of 5-18 each year in school zones. There is also an estimated 21,000 students injured each year traveling to or from school. Seventy-seven percent of these victims were pedestrians struck by a school bus or another vehicle (NHTSA).

The high number of passenger vehicle occupant deaths is an alarming trend that affects tens of thousands of motorists every year. In 2013, there were 21,268 passenger vehicle occupant deaths, which accounted for 65 percent of all vehicular fatalities that year (U.S. Department of Transportation). The same study also notes that 53 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths were caused by frontal impacts, while 25 percent were from side impacts.

Bicyclists are at an extremely high risk for injury and death following traffic accidents. In 2010, there were 800 bicyclists killed and 515,000 injured in traffic-related accidents in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This disturbing trend continued in 2011 with the death of 682 pedalcyclists. Pedalcyclists are any cyclist on a non-motorized pedal vehicle, which include bicycles, tricycles, and unicycles. In 2012, 726 pedalcyclists were killed and 49,000 were injured in traffic accidents (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). According to the NHTSA, pedalcyclist fatalities make up 2 percent of all traffic fatalities each year.

Motorcycles only make up 3 percent of all registered road vehicles in the United States. However, it is estimated that motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be involved in an accident. Each year, motorcycles are involved in 11 percent of all traffic accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), there were 4,612 motorcycle rider fatalities in 2012. This was a 2 percent increase from 2010. These alarming statistics point to the fact that motorcycle accidents remain a serious problem for both motorcyclists and motorists.

The safety of highway workers and motorists in construction zones remains a major concern in the United States. There were 609 work zone traffic fatalities in 2012 and 579 the following year (Federal Highway Administration). The consistent number of work zone deaths each year further illustrates the seriousness of the issue.

There is a 10 percent increase of auto accident fatalities in popular spring break cities between the last week of February and the first week of April (Economic Inquiry). The rise of these accidents is due to the estimated 1.5 million spring breakers who travel to these locations each year. The cities of South Padre Island, San Diego, Miami Beach, Las Vegas, and Panama City Beach all experience a significant increase in auto fatalities during spring break. The majority of these accidents involve out-of-state drivers under the age of 25.

Large semi-trucks, tractor trailers, and big rigs are involved in a growing number of accidents and fatalities each year. There are 170,000 people injured in large truck accidents annually, while 5,000 trucks are involved in accident fatalities (Semi Truck Accident Victims Center). According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, over 3,500 people died in 2013 due to accidents with large trucks. This was a 14 percent increase from 2009, which shows a clear rise in commercial trucking fatalities in the United States.

Recent statistics show a rise in automobile-related pedestrian fatalities over the last decade. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 4,743 pedestrians killed and 76,000 injured in 2012 due to auto accidents. Furthermore, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there is an automobile-related pedestrian death every 2 hours, and an injury every 7 minutes in the United States.