More than 20,000 people died on US roads in the first half of 2021
source link: https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/11/traffic-deaths-climb-higher-than-miles-traveled-in-2021-nhtsa-finds/
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ffs, slow down —
More than 20,000 people died on US roads in the first half of 2021
Vehicle miles traveled increased, but not enough to offset the rise in deaths.
Jonathan M. Gitlin - 11/1/2021, 6:44 PM
The United States registered its greatest-ever six-month rise in traffic deaths for the first half of 2021. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has just published its early estimate for the months of January-June for this year, and the numbers are grim reading. During the first half of the year, 20,160 people died on US roads, an increase of 18.4 percent compared to the same six months of (an already very deadly) 2020.
As we've noted previously, Americans started driving more riskily during 2020 than ever. Although the pandemic resulted in a decrease in the total number of vehicle miles traveled in 2020, the total number of deaths actually increased.
The mass availability of highly effective vaccines and nationwide loosening of public health restrictions saw a big rise in vehicle miles traveled for the first half of 2021—an increase of 173.1 billion miles (278.6 billion km) versus the same six months of 2020.
AdvertisementSadly, the increase in deaths grew even more, such that the fatality rate increased from 1.28 deaths per 100 million miles for the first half of 2020, to 1.34 deaths per 100 million miles for the first half of 2021.
Some parts of the country have deadlier roads than others. The greatest increase in deaths occurred in the West, increasing by 25 percent in NHTSA regions 8 (Colorado, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) and 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington), and 26 percent in NHTSA region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii). The smallest increase was a rise in deaths of 8 percent in region 7 (Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska).
NHTSA research has also shown that more drivers are speeding and fewer are wearing seatbelts since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
"This is a crisis. More than 20,000 people died on U.S. roads in the first six months of 2021, leaving countless loved ones behind. We cannot and should not accept these fatalities as simply a part of everyday life in America," said United States Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. "Today we are announcing that we will produce the Department’s first ever National Roadway Safety Strategy to identify action steps for everyone working to save lives on the road."
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