Traffic fatalities dropped in the US for the ninth straight quarter, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) early estimates for the first half of 2024.
An estimated 18,720 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes, a decrease of just over 3.2 per cent, compared to 19,330 fatalities projected to have occurred in the first half of 2023.
Meanwhile preliminary data reported by the Federal Highway Administration show that vehicle miles traveled in the first half of 2024 actually increased by about 13.1 billion miles, compared to the same period last year.
“Reversing the rise in roadway deaths has been a top priority for this Department, so we’re encouraged to see continued reductions in traffic fatalities—yet the overall proportions of this issue remain at crisis levels and there is much more work to do,” said US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
NHTSA estimates a decrease in fatalities in 31 states and Puerto Rico. The fatality rate in one state remained unchanged, while 18 states and the District of Columbia are projected to have experienced increases.
More information about NHTSA’s early estimates for the first half of 2024 can be viewed online.
