Motor vehicle collisions account for about 95 percent of transportation-related deaths and an even higher percentage of transportation injuries. Human behavior—such as alcohol and drug use, reckless operation of vehicles, failure to properly use occupant protection devices, and fatigue—is a major factor in a high proportion of crashes.

DOT has set specific targets for the next few years to improve transportation safety. These include goals to lower the U.S. commercial air carrier fatal crash rate by 80 percent by 2007, reduce highway fatalities by 20 percent by 2008, and reduce commercial truck-related fatalities by 50 percent by 2010. Specific safety initiatives for rail, transit, maritime, and pipelines are also in place.

Source
1. U.S. Department of Transportation, 1999 Strategic Plan (Washington, DC: September 2000).