Fuel price rises ’saving lives’
Tuesday, August 26th, 2008US road deaths are at their lowest since the 1960s as the rocketing price of petrol puts a strain on America’s love affair with the car.
The number of fatalities is on track to fall by 10% this year to around 37,000, the lowest since 1961, according to research suggesting the reduction is due to people cutting out leisure travel to save money.
Nationwide, traffic deaths last dipped below 37,000 in 1961. The number peaked in 1972, at about 55,000, and in recent years has hovered near 42,000.