According to estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of fatalities on U.S. roadways declined slightly last year by 0.3% to 42,795. However, this is still considered a national crisis, as the numbers are still close to those of 2021, which were the highest in 16 years. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg urged everyone to play a role in reversing the rise in traffic deaths, and the department has adopted a strategy to reduce fatalities, including grants of over $800 million to address high-crash areas.
Deputy Transportation Secretary Polly Trottenberg commented that while the rising road death trend is leveling off, the department is still working to prevent fatal crashes attributed to impaired driving, speeding, and other reckless behavior. In fact, statistics show that fatalities involving speeding and impaired or distracted driving are on the rise. Furthermore, there has been a 12% increase in fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver, prompting the agency to launch a $5 million advertising campaign to keep drivers focused on the road.
Given that the number of pedestrians killed rose by 13%, and cyclist fatalities were up by 2% last year, the agency has also provided grants to communities such as Philadelphia to improve dangerous areas, such as the 12-lane stretch of Roosevelt Boulevard, where 10% to 13% of the city’s traffic fatalities occurred annually prior to the pandemic. By reconfiguring intersections, installing safety areas for pedestrians, and upgrading traffic signals, the city hopes to prevent traffic fatalities from occurring on this road.
It is worth noting that NHTSA’s fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled decreased slightly in 2022 to 1.35, down from 1.37 in 2021. Nevertheless, the agency’s estimates continue to highlight the need for continued efforts and awareness to prevent traffic deaths from occurring.
