Recent data released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates a 3.6% decrease in traffic fatalities in the United States last year. Despite this positive trend, nearly 41,000 individuals lost their lives in roadway accidents, underscoring the ongoing importance of road safety.
The NHTSA's full-year estimates for 2022 revealed that 42,514 people were killed in crashes, marking a decline from the previous year. Deputy Administrator Sophie Shulman highlighted that this reduction in fatalities was consistent throughout the year, with the fourth quarter showing a notable decrease.
Interestingly, these improvements come amidst an increase in driving activity, as Americans collectively traveled 67.5 billion more miles in 2022 compared to the previous year. Despite this surge in mileage, the death rate per 100 million miles driven decreased to 1.26, down from 1.33 in 2021.
Shulman emphasized the persistent issue of distracted driving, attributing a significant number of fatalities to this dangerous behavior. In 2022, an estimated 3,308 individuals lost their lives in crashes involving distracted drivers, with an additional 289,310 sustaining injuries. Alarmingly, nearly 20% of those killed in distracted driving incidents were pedestrians, bicyclists, or other non-vehicle occupants.
To combat distracted driving, the NHTSA is launching a new campaign titled 'Put the Phone Away or Pay,' aimed at raising awareness and enforcing stricter measures. This initiative includes an upcoming advertising campaign and a law enforcement crackdown scheduled for April 4 to 8.
The spike in traffic deaths observed in 2021, attributed to factors such as increased speeding and reckless behavior, has prompted ongoing efforts to enhance road safety. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which initially led to a surge in fatalities as restrictions eased, authorities remain committed to reducing the number of preventable deaths on the nation's roadways.
