Although There Is Still A "Crisis," US Traffic Deaths Fell Slightly In 2022

Although the number of fatalities on American roads reduced marginally in 2017, 42,795 deaths were still a national emergency, according to federal officials.

The number of deaths decreased by 0.3% from the 42,939 fatalities in 2021, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates.

In the fourth quarter, we had the third consecutive quarterly decrease in traffic fatalities, a slight dip.

The numbers are still not far from the highest in 16 years from 2021, though.

Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary whose agency includes NHTSA, said on Thursday that “we continue to face a national crisis of traffic deaths on our roadways, and everyone has a role to play in reversing the rise that we experienced in recent years.”

According to a statement from NHTSA, to lower the number of fatalities, the agency has developed a national safe systems plan, which includes more than $800 million in grants to assist communities with initiatives in high-crash regions.

The agency’s estimates often match the precise figures, which will be made public in the spring of the following year, 2022.

Speeding and distracted or intoxicated driving are on the rise, according to data for 2021 released earlier this month by the NHTSA.

According to the data, three thousand five hundred twenty-two individuals died in fatal collisions involving at least one inattentive driver, a 12% rise. The agency launched a $5 million advertising campaign to maintain drivers’ attention on the road.

According to agency representatives, police likely underreport these incidents.

A 13% increase in pedestrian fatalities and a 2% increase in bike fatalities were recorded during the year.

Deaths from passengers not wearing seatbelts increased by 8.1%, while deaths from drunk driving increased by 14%.

According to the organization, deaths in crashes involving huge vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds jumped by 17%, while speeding-related fatalities rose by 7.9%.

The death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled also decreased somewhat in 2022, from 1.37 in 2021 to 1.35, according to a statement from NHTSA.

With kilometers driven rising by approximately 1% through 2021, people are going more as the coronavirus outbreak has subsided.