According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 37,000 lives were lost in the U.S. in 2016 from motor vehicle fatalities, an increase of 5.6 percent from the prior year. The largest increases occurred among pedestrians and cyclists (see Figure 1). Pedestrian fatalities grew from 11 percent of all traffic deaths in 2006 and 2007 to 15 percent in 2014 and 2015. Unfortunately, added safety features – such as improved headrests, airbags and other vehicle components designed to improve crashworthiness – won’t help someone who is hit outside the vehicle.
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