Economic Burden of Road Rage

The Centers for Disease Control has  reported more than 2.5 million drivers and passengers treated  in emergency departments as a result of injury sustained in motor vehicle accidents in the year 2012(CDC.gov,2017). This data which were derived from case counts tallied and presented as morbidity rates date back to 2012 , but when observing driver behavior we can assert that this data although very good data certainly can be updated merely because and if not only to really estimate what is observed on Americas roads ; driver behavior noted as (1) road rage , (2)  multiple car bullying is of great concern to public health as a whole and to clinicians who treat the injured . The economic impact is also notable ; in a one year period the cost of medical care and of productivity losses associated with injuries exceeded 80 million dollars.  Some of the causes related to increases in both  economic expenditures and in sustained injuries include  impaired driving and distracted driving . Distracted driving is driver conduct ; and behavior which may also be viewed as neglectful  . This behavior includes texting , and other conduct that distracts the driver . Impaired driving is related to driving under the influence of alcohol , illicit drugs , or opioids (CDC.gov,2017).  The number one state with the highest motor vehicle accident death rate were Texas with over 25,017, the second highest death rate from motor vehicle accidents are in California with 23,125, and the third highest death rate are in Florida  with 17862 .  he states with the least death rates from motor vehicle accidents are the district of Columbia and Wyoming. In other data related to the topic every day 28 people in the United States die in motor vehicle accidents this is one death every 51 minutes .The annual cost of alcohol related crashes total more than 44 billion dollars . Driver education that aids in avoiding vehicular accidents includes using your signal lights , never pass another driver on the right , yield the right of way and change lanes completely to pass a motorcycle or moped. Another  very well documented issue directly tied to motor vehicle accidents is addiction to opioids steaming from injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents . This is called cross addiction and it occurs during pain management with opioids during pharmacotherepy /. It is also important to mention that the burden of disease and cost of opioid addiction is currently sky rocketing as well and estimated as being more than 90 million dollars a year .

References
CDC(2017)Motor Vehicle Accidents.  Centers for Disease Control . Winnable Battles