Traffic Deaths Reach Lowest Level in Four Years, Yet Experts Continue to Raise Concerns | Carscoops

      The number of traffic deaths has nearly returned to levels seen before the pandemic.

      According to a report from Michael Gauthier, traffic fatalities in the United States decreased by 3.8% last year, with 39,345 lives lost, marking the lowest total since 2020. Authorities are aiming for continued reductions in this figure and are collaborating with police to achieve this goal.

      The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shared encouraging news, indicating that preliminary estimates show 39,345 individuals died in traffic incidents last year. While this number is still concerning, it shows a notable decrease from the 40,901 fatalities recorded in 2023.

      Notably, this is also the first time since 2020 that traffic deaths have fallen below 40,000, which is significant given that fatalities spiked in June 2020 following the initial pandemic lockdowns and remained high afterward.

      Further reports indicate that while the reasons for the increase are not completely understood, researchers have suggested that reduced traffic volumes led to speeding. However, as the workforce returned to offices, fatalities stayed high, questioning this assumption.

      Regardless of the underlying causes, the NHTSA reported that quarterly declines in fatalities began in the second quarter of 2022, and this trend persisted, with the fourth quarter of 2024 showing the 11th straight quarter of decline.

      Despite the decreased fatalities, driving activity has increased. Preliminary data from the Federal Highway Administration indicates there was a 1% rise in vehicle miles traveled, while the fatality rate for 2024 has decreased to 1.20 per 100 million vehicle miles, the lowest since 2019, yet still above the pre-COVID average rate of 1.13 over the previous seven years.

      Although these developments are positive, NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser emphasized that total road fatalities are still significantly higher than a decade ago, and the traffic fatality rate in America is comparatively high against many other countries. In response, the government is partnering with law enforcement to focus on issues like speeding, driving under the influence, distractions, and non-use of seatbelts.