Traffic fatalities went down in the first half of 2024 compared to the first half of 2023, according to estimates released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Approximately 18,720 people died in vehicle traffic crashes in the first half of 2024, a decrease of 3.2%. In 2023, there were 19,330 fatalities in the first half of the year.
The NHTSA estimated that there was a decrease in fatalities in 31 states, one state remains unchanged and 18 states saw an increase in traffic fatalities.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reported data that showed vehicle miles traveled (VMT) increased the first half of 2024 by approximately 13.1 billion miles. More miles driven combined with fewer traffic deaths resulted in a fatality rate of 1.17 fatalities per 100 million VMT.
“We’re encouraged that after spiking during the pandemic, traffic deaths are coming down,” said Sophie Shulman, NHTSA’s deputy administrator, in a statement. “NHTSA continues to advance traffic safety with all the tools at our disposal, including rulemakings for lifesaving vehicle technologies and increased funding for state highway safety offices.”
State departments of transportation have been engaging in outreach efforts to reduce traffic fatalities, such as The Montana Department of Transportation’s “Engage Montana” safety campaign and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s “Safety-First Initiative”.
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Source: AASHTO, NHSTA
