1000s Injured and Killed in Non-Driving Car Accidents

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

A US Department of Transportation study released last month shows that thousands of Americans (documented or otherwise) are injured or killed each year in vehicle-related accidents unrelated to driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) “ Not in Traffic Surveillance – 2007 Highlights” study reveals that a total of of 1747 fatalities and 841k injuries were attributed to non-traffic crashes and non-crash incidents. The agency compiled the annual estimates to provide the first-ever look at the magnitude of accidents that cannot be resolved with a new law enforced with traffic citations. Among the findings: 168 individuals are killed each year by falling vehicles. Another 88 peg it by falling out of a car. Electric windows reduce the gene pool by five unlucky souls, and three die while locked in the trunk. About 22 percent of injuries are caused while entering or exiting a vehicle. Twenty percent of injuries are caused by car doors. Some 10k end up in ER after getting jiggy with jacks or hoists. The NHTSA compiled the information from a number of sources including police reports, hospital records and an injury database maintained by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Rpn453 Rpn453 on Feb 09, 2009

    dolo54, get some ramps. I don't like being under jackstands either. I usually use the jack (a real one) for backup in combination with two jackstands if I can't use ramps.

  • Dolo54 Dolo54 on Feb 09, 2009

    @ rpn453: my car's too low to go up ramps, unless I find some really long ones, which I've never seen. As it is I have to drive on a few 2x4 laid out in front of the front wheels just to get the jack under. But I use the factory stand points and new stands. It's really more psychological than anything. 3000+ lbs hovering 2 inches over you just doesn't feel good.

  • Dzwax Dzwax on Feb 09, 2009

    Anti-safety people make me crazy. Almost all accidents occur because of unsafe behaviors or conditions. Almost all unsafe behaviors can be curbed by education. People need to be taught, and reminded to act safely, enforcement is reserved for those whose behaviors harm others.

  • R H R H on Feb 10, 2009

    dzwax> The problem is: * All people will do unsafe stuff. They are human. * Enforcement is reserved for revenue generation at the local level, not safety. * There is no guaranteed safe way to travel. - Motorcycle ? Cars are dangerous - Cars/trucks? Semis are dangerous - Train? Well, your engineer could be sending sms messages to teenagers - Flight? Probably the safest way to travel out there, but not practical for local travel - Walking? You could trip and crack your head. Depending on your PoV, ALL of these could be considered unsafe behavior. There is no black/white line of "safe" and "not safe"

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