Recently the Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First Quarter of 2012 was released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. These statistics showed that from January to March of 2012, an estimated 7,630 died in motor traffic crashes. This number was the largest estimate of fatalities in the first quarter of any year since 2008 and is a 13.5% increase from what was reported last year. On the surface this may look like just statistics, but put into context, more people died from January to March of 2012 in motor vehicle traffic crashes than all the United States losses in over 10 years in both Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

Typically, the amount of people killed in auto accidents is at its lowest in the first quarter of the year. So while the report does state that it is too soon to speculate on how the rest of the year may turn out, I would say be careful, be vigilant, and be safe on our roadways.