Site visitors Deaths in 2022 Almost Match 2021’s 16-12 months Excessive
Site visitors alongside I-76 in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke/Related Press)
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DETROIT — The variety of folks killed on U.S. roadways decreased barely final yr, however authorities officers mentioned the 42,795 individuals who died continues to be a nationwide disaster.
Estimates by the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration confirmed that the variety of fatalities dropped 0.3% from the 42,939 killed in 2021. Site visitors deaths declined barely within the fourth quarter, the third straight quarterly drop.
However they’re nonetheless near 2021 numbers, which have been the very best in 16 years.
“We proceed to face a nationwide disaster of site visitors deaths on our roadways, and everybody has a job to play in reversing the rise that we skilled lately,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose division contains NHTSA, mentioned in an announcement April 20.
The division has adopted a nationwide protected methods technique in an effort to cut back the deaths, together with greater than $800 million in grants to assist communities with initiatives in high-crash areas, NHTSA mentioned in an announcement.
📣 For Launch 📣 2022 estimates present roadway fatalities stay flat after two years of dramatic will increase. Extra: https://t.co/aTXItaQ2IT pic.twitter.com/zmiaYYIMMK
— nhtsagov (@NHTSAgov) April 20, 2023
Estimates from the company usually are near the ultimate numbers, which for 2022 will probably be launched subsequent spring.
In releasing statistics for 2021 earlier this month, NHTSA mentioned rushing and impaired or distracted driving are on the rise.
Information confirmed a 12% improve in deadly crashes involving not less than one distracted driver, with 3,522 folks killed. That prompted the company to kick off a $5 million promoting marketing campaign in an effort to maintain drivers targeted on the street. Company officers mentioned such circumstances possible are under-reported by police.
The variety of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and bike owner fatalities have been up 2% for the yr. The variety of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, whereas fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving have been up 14%.
Rushing-related deaths elevated 7.9%, whereas crash deaths involving giant vehicles weighing over 10,000 kilos have been up 17%, the company mentioned.
NHTSA mentioned in an announcement that the fatality charge per 100 million car miles traveled additionally fell barely in 2022 to 1.35, down from 1.37 in 2021. Individuals are driving extra because the coronavirus pandemic waned, with miles traveled rising nearly 1% over 2021.
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