DETROIT — Nearly 43,000 folks died in U.S. site visitors crashes in 2021, the very best quantity in 16 years with deaths resulting from rushing and impaired or distracted driving on the rise.
The 2021 remaining numbers, launched Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, confirmed earlier estimates by the company exhibiting a ten.5% improve in deaths over 2020. That’s the very best quantity since 2005 and the most important proportion improve since 1975.
Data exhibits a 12% rise in deadly crashes involving a minimum of 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 centered on the street. Agency officers mentioned such instances probably are under-reported by police.
The variety of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and bicycle 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%.
Speeding-related deaths elevated 7.9%, whereas crash deaths involving massive vehicles weighing over 10,000 kilos have been up 17%.
At a information convention Monday in Seattle, NHTSA centered on distracted driving fatalities, which audio system mentioned are fully preventable if folks cease utilizing their cell telephones, consuming, or doing different issues that divert consideration from the street.
“Remember it only takes a moment to change your life forever,” mentioned Sophie Shulman, NHTSA deputy administrator.
Steve Kiefer, a retired General Motors govt whose son, Mitchel, was killed in a 2016 distracted driving crash, mentioned cell telephones are a major explanation for distraction. But expertise is on the market to stop it together with “do not disturb” modes, in addition to apps and in-car programs that watch drivers to ensure they’re paying consideration.
“All of this technology is available today, and there’s no reason we can’t use it and roll it out quickly,” Kiefer mentioned.
Distracted driving deaths are associated to America’s habit to cell telephones, mentioned Kiefer, who began a basis with the objective of ending distracted driving. He mentioned 90% of individuals are conscious of the hazard of distracted driving, but 80% admit to doing it. In 25 states with legal guidelines in opposition to hand-held cellphone use, site visitors deaths, crashes and insurance coverage charges have dropped, he mentioned.
“We believe that legislation will change behavior,” Kiefer mentioned.
Part of the rise in crash deaths is because of folks driving extra because the coronavirus pandemic waned. NHTSA reported that the fatality price per 100 million automobile miles traveled elevated 2.2% to 1.37 in 2021.
NHTSA additionally estimates that 2.5 million folks have been injured in crashes throughout 2021, up 9.4% from 2020.
The company mentioned it would launch preliminary 2022 site visitors demise information within the coming weeks. NHTSA estimates that 31,785 folks have been killed in crashes from January via September final yr, down 0.2% from the identical interval of 2021.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”