NHTSA reports major increase in traffic fatalities

On Behalf of Lake Tindall, LLP | June 1, 2022 | Uncategorized

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a new study that reveals a major increase in traffic deaths in the U.S. and Mississippi. According to the details of the study, the number of traffic deaths in 2021 in the U.S. was listed as 42,915. This is a major jump up from 38,824, the number of fatalities that were recorded in 2020.

Studies reveal an all time high for traffic deaths

The number of motor vehicle accidents recorded over the course of the past year represents an all-time high since the NHTSA first begin recording them in 1975. The number had been down during the pandemic but then increased. A number of possible factors for the jump were listed. These include speeding and refusal to wear seat belts.

The study indicates that 44 of the 50 U.S. states saw increases in the number of traffic deaths recorded during the year. At the peak of the year, roughly 118 people were dying in traffic fatalities each day. This total represents a reverse of the trend toward fewer crashes and deaths and is the highest total recorded since 2005.

Deaths from all types of crashes increased

Settlements after fatal vehicle crashes continue to cost the insurance industry and taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Damage to personal and state property has also increased by an exponential amount. New measures are being taken to heighten the safety of roads in the nation. However, while waiting for these measures to take hold, fatalities seem to be increasing.

The number of deaths reported from many different types of crashes rose during 2021. This included crashes that occurred during out-of-state travel. These rose by a total of 15%. Meanwhile, fatalities that occurred in urban areas as well as crashes involving multiple vehicles were up by a total of just over 16%.

The total number of crashes that resulted in the deaths of pedestrians rose by a total of 13%. The number of crashes that resulted in fatalities for drivers 65 and older rose by 14%. Similar rises in fatalities were reported for drivers in all age groups.