Fewer people died on America’s roads last year than in 2023, but the situation hasn’t returned to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released its findings on traffic fatalities in 2024 and noted that while deaths were down 3.8 percent from 2023, they remain significantly higher than a decade ago.
The 39,345 deaths in 2024 were well below 2023’s 40,901, but the more sobering statistic is that last year was the first time since 2020 that numbers fell below 40,000 deaths. That said, fatalities began decreasing in the second quarter of 2022 and have fallen consistently since.
The NHTSA’s chief counsel, Peter Simshauser, said, “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. 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.”
Traffic deaths increased during COVID, even as far fewer people traveled the roads. That trend reversed in 2023 and continued in 2024, with fewer fatalities and more miles driven by Americans. More good news from the study includes the fact that 35 states and Puerto Rico recorded fewer fatalities.
[Images: Khairil Azhar Junos, Alysson M, Natalie Macheda via Shutterstock]
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