Despite a decrease in traffic deaths in the United States in 2022, the numbers are still cause for alarm. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that there were 33,244 fatalities in motor vehicle crashes in 2022, which is a 1.6% decrease from the previous year. While any reduction in fatalities is a positive development, these numbers still indicate a pressing public safety issue. Traffic deaths continue to be a major crisis in the United States, and more must be done to ensure the safety of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the roadways.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released its estimates for the number of road fatalities in 2022. According to the NHTSA, the number of people killed on U.S. roadways has slightly decreased, by 0.3%, from 2021, but is still a cause for concern. The official number of fatalities is expected to be released next spring.
Last year saw 42,795 deaths on U.S. roadways, which is still close to 2021 figures—the highest recorded in 16 years. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had this to say about this sobering state of affairs: ‘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.’
The Department of Transportation, which includes NHTSA, has put in place a national safe systems strategy to prevent further deaths. They have allocated over $800 million in grants to help communities address projects in high-crash areas.
NHTSA’s new data reveals that speeding, impaired, and distracted driving are still major causes of road fatalities. In 2022, fatal crashes involving at least one distracted driver were up by 12%, meaning that 3,522 people died as a result of this kind of driving. The organization intends to address this through a $5 million advertising campaign to promote safe driving habits. They added that such cases are likely to be under-reported by police.
Pedestrian and cyclist fatalities were also up by 13% and 2% respectively. The number of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, while fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving were up 14%. Speeding-related deaths increased by 7.9%, while crash deaths involving large trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds rose by 17%.
Despite these statistics, the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled fell slightly in 2022 to 1.35, down from 1.37 in 2021. This trend could be due to people driving more after the Covid-19 pandemic relented. For instance, miles traveled rose by almost 1% over the same period.
In conclusion, the number of road fatalities in the U.S. remains a major cause for concern. While the slight fall in fatalities is welcome news, the proximity of the figures to the previous year is a sobering reminder of the work that needs to be done to promote road safety. The government and other stakeholders need to work together to reduce road accidents and ensure the safety of all road users.
