The numbers are in, and they tell a gruesome story – last year, Americans experienced one of the worst years on record regarding traffic fatalities. The 43,000 people killed on U.S. roads in 2021 represent the highest number of deaths in 16 years, a 10.5% leap over 2020 statistics. Experts attribute the jump to people once again venturing onto roadways as pandemic restrictions eased – but that fact alone doesn’t explain the level of death compared to the previous 15 years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that the sharp uptick in fatalities is the most significant since 1975, when they began recording fatality data.
Florida also experienced a record number of traffic deaths, topping 3,700 fatalities and causing local authorities to search for answers. Research indicates that post-pandemic drivers utilize seat belts less frequently and are speeding more frequently – two factors that undoubtedly exacerbate the problem. Nearly halfway through 2022, the trend is continuing – although it is expected that higher gas prices this summer may reduce the number of people on the roads.
Fast Fact: Americans drove approximately 325 billion more miles in 2021 than in 2020, providing more opportunities for accidents.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg stated that an “American crisis is taking place on our roadways” and urged state and local governments, drivers, and safety advocates to unite to slow the deadly trend. Last week’s preliminary numbers reveal that 42,915 people died in traffic accidents in 2021, amounting to 118 people per day. This number is a significant increase from 2020’s total of 38,824. Final figures are expected to be released in several months.
The statistics are alarming for Floridians – of the forty-four states that posted increases in traffic deaths in 2021, the most fatalities occurred in Texas, California, and Florida. Wyoming, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Maine all reported lower traffic death numbers.
While some experts point to seatbelts and speeding, other safety officials blame the increased accident activity on motorists driving while impaired, distracted driving, and the design of the roads themselves – which they say prioritize speed over safety. The group said this combination of factors “has wiped out a decade and a half of progress in reducing traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths.”
Other Grim Statistics Also on the Rise
Fatalities in 2021 increased across the spectrum, including out-of-state travel, accidents on rural roads, and multi-vehicle crashes, which all rose approximately 15%. Even pedestrian deaths were up 13% in the deadly year.
Fatalities involving at least one large truck were up 13%, while motorcycle deaths rose 9%, and bicyclist fatalities increased by 5%.
The NHTSA reports that before 2020, the number of fatalities had decreased for three straight years.
NHTSA administrators assured the public that this crisis would be preventable in the near future. “We will redouble our safety efforts, and we need everyone — state and local governments, safety advocates, automakers, and drivers, to join us,” said Steven Cliff. “All of our lives depend on it.” For his part, Buttigieg referenced a national plan unveiled earlier in 2022, targeting the trend and aiming to reverse it quickly. The department is expected to provide billions in grants to encourage states and localities to reduce speed limits and employ safer road design, including more bike and bus lanes, improved lighting, and marked crosswalks.
Traffic Fatalities Impact Everyone Involved
While a traffic fatality is tragic, its impact is amplified for the family left with the reality of dealing with medical expenses, funeral costs, and lost income. If your loved one was the victim of a car accident and you believe a negligent party was at fault, you have the right to pursue compensation that will ensure your family’s future. Call Probinsky & Cole today for expert guidance as to how to proceed.
