U.S. traffic deaths fell 3.2% within the first three months of 2024 — the bottom quantity because the similar interval in 2020 — however crash fatalities nonetheless stay sharply above pre-COVID ranges.
The Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration on Monday estimated 8,650 individuals died in site visitors crashes via March 31 this yr, which continues to be considerably increased than the 7,901 individuals killed within the first three months of 2020. Visitors deaths spiked after the beginning of COVID-19 and stay elevated however have fallen for 2 consecutive years.
U.S. site visitors deaths fell by 3.6% in 2023, the second straight yearly decline, however are nonetheless considerably above pre-pandemic ranges, auto security regulators mentioned on Monday.
Fatalities stay a lot increased than the 36,355 individuals killed in 2019. On the time, site visitors deaths had fallen for 3 straight years. The fatality fee within the first quarter fell however nonetheless was increased for the three-month interval in any pre-pandemic yr since 2008.
As U.S. roads turned much less crowded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, some motorists perceived police as much less prone to subject tickets, consultants mentioned, seemingly leading to riskier conduct on the roads.
U.S. site visitors deaths jumped 10.5% in 2021 to 42,915, the very best quantity killed on American roads in a single yr since 2005.
In 2022, the variety of pedestrians killed rose 0.7% to 7,522, essentially the most since 1981. The variety of cyclists killed rose 13% to 1,105 in 2022, essentially the most since at the least 1980.
—David Shepardson, Reuters