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NTSB Release: TRANSPORTATION FATALITIES DROP IN 2009; PIPELINE AND MARINE DEATHS RISE

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2010

Washington, DC – Transportation fatalities in the United
States decreased by 9.2 percent in 2009 from 2008, according
to preliminary figures released today by the National
Transportation Safety Board.

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,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P.
Hersman, “we continue to see far too many accidents in all
segments of the transportation community. There is still
much work to do to prevent the loss of life on our roads,
rails, waterways, and skies.”

Pipeline fatalities increased by six (8 to 14), with an
increase in both categories – gas pipelines and liquid
pipeline operations.

Marine deaths increased from 783 to 817, with the vast
majority occurring in recreational boating (736). Other
marine categories, including cargo transport and commercial
fishing, showed increases as well, although commercial
passenger vessels showed a slight decrease.

Highway fatalities, which account for nearly 95% of all
transportation deaths, decreased from 37,423 in 2008 to
33,808 in 2009. In fact, highway fatalities decreased in all
categories including motorcycle fatalities (down 16 percent)
which had been on the rise in recent years.

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

Rail fatalities decreased 4% from 781 to 751. The vast
majority of these fatalities were persons struck by a rail
vehicle.

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

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