Traffic Related Deaths on the Decline – But There’s No Cause for Celebration

While still alarmingly high, the latest news for US drivers is that traffic fatalities are trending downward. Last month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that for the 5^th quarter in a row, there has been a continued decrease. After a spike in traffic deaths during the Covid pandemic in 2020, and a total of 42,795 traffic related deaths in 2022, the number of incidents are working their way down. Texas, California, and Florida are the top three leading states in traffic fatalities.

From 2019 to 2022, Michigan experienced a disturbing 25% increase in fatal accidents. In June of 2023, Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a law that prohibits distracted driving, making it illegal to use or hold a cell phone while driving. Although it will take time to aggregate data on the effectiveness of the law, and distracted driving is not the cause of all traffic fatalities, it is certainly a step in the right direction.

There’s still an incredible amount of work to do to continue to decrease traffic fatalities, and we all need to do our part. Next time you get behind the wheel, be sure to stay alert, buckle your seatbelt, drive sober and limit distractions. In 2021 and 2022, October was the month with the highest number of traffic deaths in the nation, with common causes being speeding and alcohol, so exercise extra caution this month. Remember, your life and the lives of others on the road with you are precious! If you’re in the driver’s seat, focus on driving. Everything else can wait.