NHTSA Report Shows Traffic Deaths on the Decline, Even as People Drive More

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) early estimate report for 2024, it appears as though American traffic deaths have dipped below 40,000 for the first time since 2020. While this is undoubtedly promising news, the agency’s early estimate report also shows that fatality rates remained high in certain areas of the country, like the Northeast, from Maine to New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

The NHTSA’s Report

The NHTSA’s report shed several useful insights into the trends and patterns that are often associated with traffic deaths, such as:

• Starting in 2021, the United States began to experience an influx of traffic-related fatalities. The top factors for the increase were distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, failing to use a seat belt and/or child restraint system, aggressive driving, and a decrease in law enforcement.
• Despite people driving more, traffic fatalities for 2024 decreased to 1.20 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles travelled (VMT), down from 2023’s rate of 1.26 fatalities per 100 million VMT.
• In 2023, nearly 41,000 Americans died in motor vehicle collisions. Of these fatalities, 24,000 were in passenger vehicles, and over 6,300 were motorcyclists. Large trucks and pedestrians accounted for the remainder of traffic-related deaths.
• Of the total passenger vehicle occupants who died in deadly vehicular crashes in 2023, nearly half were unrestrained.
• People outside of vehicles, like pedestrians and cyclists, accounted for three times more deaths in urban areas than on rural roads.
• Some cities are taking action to reduce reckless driving, like Philadelphia and New York. Both are increasing their use of speeding and red-light cameras.

Traffic Safety Tips

The NHTSA’s primary goals are to reduce deaths, injuries, and economic losses that stem from motor vehicle crashes. The agency does this by setting and enforcing safety standards for vehicles and equipment, conducting research on traffic safety, and partnering with local and state governments. To help reduce traffic-related deaths, the NHTSA has put forth ten of this year’s top safety tips. They are:

1. Buckle up, every trip, every time. Wearing your seat belt dramatically reduces your risk of sustaining injury in the case of a crash. Wear your belt properly, which means placing the shoulder belt across the middle of your chest and away from your neck and placing the lap belt on your hips, not your stomach. Never put the shoulder belt behind your back or underneath your arm. If you are riding with passengers in the vehicle, make sure that everyone is properly buckled before starting your trip.
2. Make sure that children are in the proper seat, that the seat is installed correctly, that you use one every time your child is in the car, and that you know when it is appropriate to transition to another type of car seat or seat belt.
3. Always drive sober! Driving under the influence is a dangerous and deadly crime. In every state, it is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, whether legal or illegal. It’s simple: if you are impaired, do not get behind the wheel. Plan ahead and make sure you have a safe ride home before an event. Designate a sober driver or schedule a rideshare, taxi, or use public transportation.
4. Pay attention to the road. This means no distracted driving, like talking or texting, eating or drinking, adjusting the navigation system — anything that takes your attention away from the road.
5. Obey all posted speed limits. Speeding is an entirely preventable and significant roadway hazard; it not only endangers you, the driver, but also puts everyone else on the road at risk.
6. If you are drowsy or overly fatigued, do not drive. It is also important to remember that if you take medication(s), you must understand how they could affect your ability to drive safely.
7. Be sure to share the road responsibly. Remember that you are sharing the road not only with other motorists but also with pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles. Make sure to give others enough room on the road, yield to them as you would to other motorists, and do not underestimate how fast they may be going.
8. Pay attention to flashing lights. If you see a vehicle with flashing lights stopped on a highway, move over into a lane not adjacent to the stopped vehicle. If a school bus has its yellow lights flashing, you must slow down and prepare to stop; if its red lights are flashing and its stop arm is extended, you must come to a full stop and wait until the bus’s flashing lights turn off and it begins moving again.
9. Talk to teen drivers. If you have a teen driver in your household, remind them to always wear a seat belt, obey speed limits, avoid distracted driving, and limit the number of people they let ride with them to limit distractions. Remember that you have more influence on your teens than you may think, so be sure to set a good example.
10. Stay on top of recalls. The NHTSA advises checking for vehicle recalls at least twice a year. You can check for them at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.
    

When to Call a Lawyer

If you were injured in a car accident, someone at our firm can help. Our lawyers have successfully represented injured motor vehicle victims for decades. Here are a few examples of our firm’s notable recoveries:

• Our client was left paralyzed from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision. Our attorneys not only pursued a case against the at-fault driver who hit our client head-on, but also against the auto manufacturer for defective seat belts and the crashworthiness of the vehicle. Our team recovered $4,500,000.00 on behalf of our client. You can read more here: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/39-2/.
• A driver who was struck by a tractor-trailer on an interstate highway suffered severe injuries that resulted in the amputation of his legs below the knee. Our team’s investigation uncovered that the brakes on the tractor-trailer were worn out and that the tires were bald; there was also evidence that the truck driver’s log was inaccurate and indicated that he had been driving excessive hours. Our attorneys successfully recovered $3,000,000.00 on behalf of our client. To learn more, visit: https://www.galfandberger.com/verdicts/auto-accidents/45-2/.

If you were injured in an automobile accident and would like to pursue a claim for your injuries, someone at our firm can help. Contact a representative online now.

Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP, Representing Automobile Accident Victims Since 1947

Contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.