Lexington Traffic: Motor Vehicle Fatalities Up Across MA

LEXINGTON, MA—Motor vehicle fatalities were up across the country and in Massachusetts in 2015, according to a study by the National Safety Council.

The number of motor-vehicle deaths in the United States in 2015 totaled 38,300, up 8% from 2014.

The increase was not as dramatic in Massachusetts, which saw 354 traffic fatalities in 2015, a two percent increase from the 348 deaths in 2014 and a six percent increase from the 334 deaths in 2013.

Nationwide, the estimated annual mileage death rate is 1.22 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, an increase of 5% from the 2014 rate.

The National Security Council reports that the larger jump in the raw numbers is the result of lower gasoline prices and an improving economy, resulting in an estimated 3.5% increase in motor-vehicle mileage.

Neighboring Vermont saw the biggest percentage increase in traffic fatalities over the past year, up 30 percent. However, the overall number of fatalities was still fairly low, increasing from 44 in 2014 to 57 in 2015.

New Mexico saw the biggest decrease, 20 percent, of traffic fatalities over the past year.

“The estimated cost of motor-vehicle deaths, injuries, and property damage in 2015 was $412.1 billion,” the report states. “The costs include wage and productivity losses, medical expenses, administrative expenses, employer costs, and property damage.”

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation keeps information on the most dangerous intersections in the state, which you can find here.

The intersection of Harrington Road and Bedford Street in Lexington was ranked as a Top-200 intersection cluster in the state. The intersection is ranked as the 193rd most dangerous, and had 9 injury crashes between 2011 and 2013.