DETROIT (AP) — The variety of individuals killed on U.S. roadways decreased barely final yr, however authorities officers stated the 42,795 individuals who died continues to be a nationwide disaster.
Estimates by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration confirmed that the variety of fatalities dropped 0.3% from the 42,939 killed in 2021. Traffic deaths declined barely within the fourth quarter, the third straight quarterly drop.
But they’re nonetheless near 2021 numbers, which had been the very best in 16 years.
“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,” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, whose division consists of NHTSA, stated in an announcement Thursday.
The division has adopted a nationwide protected programs 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 stated in an announcement.
Estimates from the company usually are near the ultimate numbers, which for 2022 might be launched subsequent spring.
In releasing statistics for 2021 earlier this month, NHTSA stated rushing and impaired or distracted driving are on the rise.
Data confirmed a 12% improve in deadly crashes involving no less than one distracted driver, with 3,522 individuals killed. That prompted the company to kick off a $5 million promoting marketing campaign in an effort to maintain drivers centered on the highway. Agency officers stated such circumstances possible are under-reported by police.
The variety of pedestrians killed rose 13%, and bicycle owner fatalities had been up 2% for the yr. The variety of unbelted passengers killed rose 8.1%, whereas fatalities involving alcohol-impaired driving had been up 14%.
Speeding-related deaths elevated 7.9%, whereas crash deaths involving massive vans weighing over 10,000 kilos had been up 17%, the company stated.
NHTSA stated in an announcement that the fatality fee per 100 million automobile miles traveled additionally fell barely in 2022 to 1.35, down from 1.37 in 2021. People are driving extra because the coronavirus pandemic waned, with miles traveled growing nearly 1% over 2021.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”