As a North Carolina resident, it is reasonable for you to know how well your state is doing when it comes to keeping people safe. While certainly the state alone cannot be responsible for preventing car accidents, the laws that it puts in place do go a long way toward helping this. Drunk driving is one behavior that provides an example as the state government develops the penalties for these offenses in the hopes of proactively preventing initial and repeat issues. Vehicle manufacturers may also contribute to safety on the roads with the inclusion of safety-focused features in new vehicles.
Unfortunately, it seems that more needs to be done to prevent tragedy from striking North Carolina roads and highways. In 2018, the state recorded 1,437 vehicular fatalities. This number is not only higher than the prior year but the highest in the five years spanning 2014 through 2018. In 2014, there were 1,284 such deaths. Increases in deaths in which alcohol, motorcyclists and pedestrians were involved were also recorded in 2018.
In 2017, North Carolina lost 401 lives to drunk drivers. In 2018, that rose to 421. In 2017, 176 motorcycle riders and 198 pedestrians were killed. In 2018, there were 191 biker fatalities and 225 pedestrian fatalities. Between 2014 and 2018, Buncombe County lost 40 people in drunk driving crashes. Twenty-nine motorcyclists and 27 pedestrians died in those five years in the county.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give residents in North Carolina information that allows them to understand the true risks they and their loved ones face so they know how important it is to take action after any vehicle crash occurs.