Every day, thousands of people are killed and injured on the roads. In 2006, in the United States alone, there were an estimated 5,973,000 police-reported traffic crashes, in which 42,642 people were killed and 2,575,000 people were injured, with 4,189,000 crashes involving property damage only. An average of 117 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes in 2006; that is, about 1 every 12 minutes. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of major brain and spinal injuries and the leading cause of death for every age from 2 through 34. The personal, social, and economic costs of motor vehicle crashes include pain and suffering; direct costs sustained by the injured persons and their insurers; indirect costs to taxpayers for health care and public assistance; and for many victims, a lower standard of living and quality of life.

During the past 20 years, motor vehicles accounted for over 90% of all transportation fatalities, and an even larger percentage of accidents and injuries. Our increasingly mobile society exposes all age groups to the risks of crashes, as passengers, drivers, and pedestrians. In contemporary society, automobiles play an indispensable role in transporting people and goods, and yet motor vehicle crashes remain a major public health problem. The health care cost of motor vehicle crashes is a national financial burden that must and can be reduced.

Overall, the impact of motor vehicle crashes on a society is enormous. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the cost of crashes at well over $500 million a day, totaling $230 billion annually. These costs include property damage, medical care, insurance administration, emergency services, legal and court costs, travel delay, productivity losses, and costs to employers.