The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that 11,260 people were killed on U.S. roadways in the third quarter of 2020, a 13.1% increase compared to the third quarter of 2019. For the first nine months of 2020, 28,190 people died in crashes, a 4.6% increase from the year before. Traffic deaths rose even […]
2019 Fatality Data Show Continued Annual Decline in Traffic Deaths
Second quarter 2020 projections show reduced overall fatalities but confirms trend toward risky driving behaviors during coronavirus crisis. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released a preview of 2019 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System and preliminary estimates for the first half of 2020. Alongside the release of the 2019 […]
NSC Estimates U.S. Saw a 20% Jump in Motor Vehicle Death Rates in First Six Months of 2020 Despite Quarantines
Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council (NSC) based on the first six months of data from all 50 states tell an erratic story about the nation’s driving behaviors and the impact of COVID-19 on roadway safety. The U.S. experienced an estimated 20% jump in the death rate – an indicator of how safely drivers […]
Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Rose 23.5% in May in the U.S. Despite Quarantines
Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council based on May data from all 50 states indicate that for the third month in a row, road users in the U.S. were at a higher risk of dying from a motor vehicle crash. As reported in Injury Facts, the fatality rate per miles driven in May – […]
National Safety Council Projects Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Jump 36.6% in April Despite Quarantines
For second straight month, preliminary estimates show emptier but riskier roads. Preliminary estimates based on April data from all 50 states indicate that for the second straight month, Americans did not reap any safety benefit from having less roadway traffic. In fact, the roads became even more lethal as miles driven plummeted. Preliminary estimates from […]
Motor Vehicle Fatality Rates Jump 14% in March Despite Quarantines
Preliminary estimates from the National Safety Council show that as Americans began driving less and covering fewer miles, the emptier roads became more lethal. Early data indicate a year-over-year 14% jump in fatality rates per miles driven in March, in spite of an 8% drop in the total number of roadway deaths compared to March […]
Fatal Crashes Involving Drivers Who Test Positive for Marijuana Doubled in Washington State Following Legalization
According to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, the share of drivers who, after a fatal crash, tested positive for active THC – the drug’s main psychoactive ingredient – has doubled since Washington State legalized marijuana in December 2012. AAA believes the increase raises important traffic safety concerns for drivers across the […]
U.S. Roadway Fatalities Decline for Second Straight Year
Newer, safer vehicles helped reduce fatalities as driving reached record levels. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released highway crash fatality data for 2018, showing a 2.4 percent decline in overall fatalities, the second consecutive year of reduced crash fatalities. Under this Administration and Secretary Chao’s leadership, the USDOT has focused […]
Red Light Running Deaths Hit 10 Year High
More than two people are killed every day on U.S. roads by impatient and reckless drivers blowing through red lights, according to data analysis performed by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The most recent crash data available shows 939 people were killed in red light running crashes in 2017 — a 10-year high and […]
AAA Reports Drivers Rely Too Heavily on New Vehicle Safety Technologies In Spite of Limitations
While popular ADAS technology could eliminate nearly 3 million collisions per year, misunderstanding and misuse of driver assistance technology could lead to a crash. More and more, drivers are recognizing the value in having vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like blind spot monitoring systems, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist. However, while […]