The advancements in automotive technology mean a
drastic reduction in accidents and lives lost, a new National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration study revealed.

The NHTSA study estimates that the likelihood of
crashing in 100,000 miles of driving has decreased from 30 percent in a model
year 2000 car to 25 percent in model 2008, when both vehicles are driven ‘as
new.’

The likelihood of escaping a crash uninjured has
improved from 79 to 82 percent as a result of improvements between 2000 and
2008 car fleets, NHTSA said.

According to the report, the nationwide impact of these
advancements is substantial. Improvements made after 2000 prevented the crashes
of 700,000 vehicles and prevented or mitigated injuries to 1 million occupants.
NHTSA also believes improvements saved 2,000 lives in the 2008 calendar year
alone.

Of 9 million passenger vehicles that were in crashes,
200,000 of them were preventable by improvements to the model year 2008 fleet,
and the injuries of 300,000 of their 12 million occupants would have been
prevented or mitigated – including saving 600 lives.