Over the past five years, traffic fatalities in the US have increased by 13%. However, fatalities rose 18% between 2019 and 2020, but only 9% between 2020 and 2021. Then, from 2021 to 2022, traffic fatalities recorded no increase.
Connecticut saw the biggest increase in fatal crashes, rising 29% between 2021 and 2022. Idaho’s traffic fatalities decreased by 19% during the same period. The improvement in Idaho is noteworthy since it ranked as the most dangerous state for traffic fatalities between 2020 and 2021, with a staggering 30% increase.
Overall, these improvements are encouraging, especially after a particularly deadly past few years. Traffic fatalities reached a 13-year high in 2020, when 42,000 people died on America’s roads. Texas, California and Florida have the highest numbers of traffic fatalities overall, but California was the only one of those three which saw an increase (3%).
Distracted driving is the leading cause of auto fatalities, followed by speeding. Seasonality also plays a major role in the dangers on US roads. The late summer and early autumn tend to be the most perilous times to drive, with August being the most dangerous month. The Labour Day holiday – in early September - accounts for the most traffic deaths over a holiday period and is considered the deadliest holiday during which to be on the road, according to the Insurance Information Institute.
The type of roadway and method of transportation have a substantial impact on the severity of a crash. Slow rural roads and rural highways saw the biggest increases in fatal crashes, while urban roads became safer over the past year.
Fatalities involving pedestrians decreased, but deaths increased 11% for pedal cyclists. Although speeding is a top cause of traffic accidents nationwide, fatalities caused by speeding decreased 6%. Incidents involving large trucks increased 13% from 2020 to 2021, but increased only 2% from 2021 to 2022.
Traffic fatalities by roadway, % change from 2021:
Road 2021 2022 Change
Interstate 2,046 2,153 5%
Urban interstate 3,632 3,637 0%
Rural arterial 7,845 8,411 7%
Urban arterial 16,506 15,508 -6%
Rural collector 7,301 7,913 8%
Urban collector 5,609 5,172 -8%
QuoteWizard.com said that the traffic fatality data was sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2022 Traffic Safety Facts. Traffic fatality demographic data, roadway and type were sourced from a separate NHTSA Crash Stats publication from 2022. Definitions for types of fatalities and roadway categories follow NHTSA guidelines.
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