Transportation Fatalities Drop Overall in 2009; Pipeline, Marine Deaths Rise

Transportation fatalities in the United States decreased by 9.2 percent in 2009 from 2008, according to preliminary figures released recently by the NTSB.

The data indicate that transportation fatalities in all modes totaled 35,928 in 2009, compared to 39,569 in 2008. Although highway, rail, aviation, deaths declined, pipeline, and marine fatalities showed an increase.

"While statistics show that transportation fatalities have declined this past year, we continue to see far too many accidents in all segments of the transportation community,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman. “There is still much work to do to prevent the loss of life on our roads, rails, waterways, and skies."

Aviation deaths decreased from 574 to 538. Nearly 90 percent of aviation fatalities occurred in general aviation accidents (471), but they still represented a decrease from the previous year (494).

Aviation statistics are compiled by NTSB. Marine numbers are provided by the Department of Homeland Security, and numbers for all other modes by the Department of Transportation.

FMI: www.dot.gov, www.ntsb.gov