Americans Are Driving More This Year and Surprisingly Experiencing Fewer Deaths | Carscoops

      The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported a significant reduction in road fatalities this year, although Hawaii and a few other states experienced notable increases.

      In the first half of this year, 17,140 Americans lost their lives in traffic accidents. This represents an 8.2% decrease compared to 2024, when there were 18,680 recorded deaths. This decline occurred even as Americans drove more than the previous year.

      According to the NHTSA, initial data indicate a substantial decline in traffic fatalities in the first half of the year. While the figures are still being finalized, estimates suggest that 17,140 people died in motor vehicle crashes from January to June.

      Although this total may seem alarming, the government emphasized that it points to a significant 8.2% reduction, marking a considerable drop from the 18,680 fatalities reported in the first six months of 2024.

      Notably, the decrease in fatalities coincided with an increase in driving; Americans drove an additional 12.1 billion miles during the first half of the year, leading to a fatality rate of 1.06 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. This reflects an 8.6% improvement from last year and represents the lowest mid-year fatality rate since 2014.

      On a regional level, the overall national trend is positive, but statistics vary significantly by state. Thirty-eight states are expected to see reductions in traffic deaths, with Connecticut experiencing the largest decline at 32.5%.

      Conversely, Hawaii saw a dramatic increase in fatalities, jumping by 47.8%. Other states reporting increases include Idaho (18.6%), Kansas (21.2%), Massachusetts (15.1%), Montana (9.8%), New Hampshire (7.5%), North Dakota (5.6%), Utah (2.7%), West Virginia (6.7%), and Wyoming (10.2%).

      While the NHTSA did not specify the reasons behind these changes, Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser mentioned that "These preliminary figures are promising and reflect NHTSA’s close cooperation with state and local partners, particularly law enforcement, to enhance road safety." He added, however, that 17,140 fatalities are still excessively high, and efforts will continue to reduce traffic deaths further.