Following the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, traffic levels decreased dramatically as many opted to simply stay home – and as a result, traffic fatalities declined. However, that was followed by a big uptick in risky driving behavior, leading to a spike in deaths. Traffic fatalities did eventually begin to decline shortly thereafter, trending down through the entirety of 2023, as well as the first half of 2024, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That was also the case for the entirety of last year, too.
The NHTSA has released its early estimates of traffic fatalities in the U.S. for 2024, and it projects that 39,345 people died on roadways last year – around 3.8 percent fewer than 2023’s total of 40,901 fatalities. It’s also the first time since 2020 that the total number of traffic fatalities dipped below the 40,000 mark, while Q4 2024 was the 11th consecutive quarterly decrease that began in Q2 2022. There were 1,820 fewer people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roads during 2023, a 4.3 percent decrease from 42,721 in 2022 to 40,901.
Meanwhile, preliminary data shows that U.S. drivers covered around one percent more miles in 2024 compared to 2023, while the fatality rate for 2024 decreased to 1.20 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled – the lowest since 2019, but still above the average rate of 1.13 in the seven years before COVID. NHTSA also estimates that fatalities decreased in 35 states and Puerto Rico in 2024, while increases are projected in 14 states and the District of Columbia, as compared to 2023.
“It’s encouraging to see that traffic fatalities are continuing to fall from their COVID pandemic highs. Total road fatalities, however, remain significantly higher than a decade ago, and America’s traffic fatality rate remains high relative to many peer nations,” NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser said. “To reduce fatalities further, USDOT is working closely to partner with the law enforcement community to enhance traffic enforcement on our roads, including speeding, impairment, distraction, and lack of seatbelt use.”
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